Current approaches in the recognition and management of eating disorders

Abstract

Summary Eating disorders are now well acknowledged mental health problems that are common and present in people from diverse sociodemographic backgrounds. The past decade has seen a rapid expansion in research into eating disorder interventions. In response to the increasing burden of eating disorders, the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care has implemented significant policy changes to improve patient access to Medicare and inpatient treatment facilities. There are several international clinical practice guidelines and a robust evidence base particularly for first line care with specific psychological therapies, including guidelines for the management of eating disorders in individuals with a high weight. Medications play an important adjunct role in care, and novel neuromodulating treatments, such as psychostimulants, are under study. There is emerging evidence for increased person‐centred care, with more choice in the form of alternatives to hospital inpatient programs and more respectful consideration of care for all who experience an eating disorder, including people with high weight.

Psychometric properties of self-report measures of eating disorder cognitions: a systematic review

“…Examination of their intention during development and careful scrutiny at the item level reflected that they captured other symptomatology, including emotional, behavioural symptoms, and items measuring functional impairment. These exclusions may impact the clinical utility of this review, due to the frequency of use of these measures for clinical and diagnostic purposes [ 42 ]. However, we also considered that the psychometric properties of these two measures have been assessed and systematically reviewed elsewhere [ 5 , 45 , 67 ].…”

“Once Again It Becomes a Friend in Times of Adversity”: A Qualitative Exploration of Interrelationships between Anorexia Nervosa and Trauma over Ten Years

“…Anorexia nervosa (AN) is defined as a serious mental health disorder characterised by low body weight and restrictive eating behaviours that are maintained by disturbances in self-perceived weight and shape, and an intense fear of weight gain [1]. AN is widely reported to have the highest mortality rate of any mental health disorder [2] with the two most common causes of death being physical deterioration due to sustained low weight [3,4] and suicide [2,5].…”