A national survey of eating disorder training

Abstract

Training in EDs is limited. Simulated patient encounters, massive open online courses, web-based curricula, dedicated rotations and clinical experiences, didactic curricula, and brief-training programs may help to improve eating disorder diagnostic and treatment skills among trainees.

Does being overweight or male increase a patient's risk of not being referred for an eating disorder consult?

“…6,17,18 Research also shows that individuals frequently are not asked about their eating patterns by healthcare professionals or primary care physicians. 6 There is a lack of training and education in eating disorders across professional disciplines 15,19 and a need to improve eating disorder mental health literacy. 6,[13][14][15][16] Studies have found that a variety of professional providers report a need for more eating disorder training, education, and consultation.…”

“…6,[13][14][15][16] Studies have found that a variety of professional providers report a need for more eating disorder training, education, and consultation. 19,20 Stigmatizing attitudes and beliefs toward those with eating disorders are common and are associated with adverse outcomes, such as lower selfesteem and greater self-stigma related to seeking psychological help. 21 It is also important to note that the majority of research has been focused on young women with eating disorders, thus less is known about what influences help-seeking behaviors among men with eating disorders.…”

Fifty volumes of scholarship on eating disorders

“…"Mickey" Stunkard, whose research (Stunkard et al, 1986) refuted psychodynamic models of eating behavior and who introduced into the field clinical presentations we now recognized as binge-eating disorder (BED) or night-eating syndrome (Stunkard & Allison, 2003;Stunkard, Grace, & Wolff, 1955). Four inaugural members still serve on our board, enriching the IJED by bringing to their reviewer role a valuable historical perspective and extensive knowledge of the field and, as IJED authors, by expanding our knowledge base (referenced in the following sentence are their most cited publication and their most recent IJED publication): W. Stewart Agras (Kraemer, Wilson, Fairburn, & Agras, 2002;Lock et al, 2016), Katherine Halmi (Halmi, Falk, & Schwartz, 1981;Mahr et al, 2015), Michael Strober (Khalsa et al, 2015;Strober, Freeman, & Morrell, 1997), and Joel Yager (Gwirtsman, Roybyrne, Yager, & Gerner, 1983;Lopez, Yager, & Feinstein, 2010).…”

Rare medical manifestations of severe restricting and purging: “Zebras,” missed diagnoses, and best practices

“…The medical care of adults with eating disorders in the United States remains suboptimal at nearly all levels of care, from the primary care office setting to the top university medical center . Primary care clinicians and internal medicine physicians in inpatient settings still receive little or no formal training in the complicated interplay of starvation/purging physiology with psychological distress inherent to eating disorders . Many patients with eating disorders minimize physical symptoms due to their strong denial of disease severity, and the busy clinician may take patients who say they “feel fine” at their word.…”

“…3,4 Primary care clinicians and internal medicine physicians in inpatient settings still receive little or no formal training in the complicated interplay of starvation/ purging physiology with psychological distress inherent to eating disorders. 5 Many patients with eating disorders minimize physical symptoms due to their strong denial of disease severity, and the busy clinician may take patients who say they "feel fine" at their word. Alternatively, patients who clearly disclose symptoms may find their complaints dismissed as being "in their head" or "part of the eating disorder."…”