Variables that influence diagnosis and treatment of the eating disorders within primary care settings: A vignette study

Abstract

Nonclinical features of case presentations are used when making eating disorder diagnoses and in selecting treatment. Decision-making in primary care does not reflect recommendations from clinical guidance, and this disparity might increase the risk of complications in the care of sub-groups of eating-disordered patients.

Health service utilization for eating disorders: Findings from a community‐based study

“…Hence, the present findings underscore the critical role of primary care practitioners in the treatment of eating disorders. 32 Given that participants remained highly symptomatic, it is apparent that the nonspecific interventions they employed had little impact on their eating disorder psychopathology. Hence, an important implication of the present findings is that primary care practitioners may need to be educated as to the ineffectiveness of a treatment approach focusing on comorbid psychiatric problems among individuals affected by eating disorders.…”

“…44 It is important to note that these and other aspects of eating disorders mental health literacy may be evident not only among individuals affected, but among primary care practitioners and other treatment providers. 32,45,46 Discrepancies between the beliefs and attitudes of individuals with eating disorders and those of treatment providers may also need to be addressed. For example, general practitioners are far more likely than members of the public to support the use of psychiatrists, and of antidepressant medication, and far less likely to support the use of ''lifestyle'' interventions, in the treatment of BN.…”

Role of Anxiety, Depression and Anger in Eating Disorders-Structural Model

“…Although primary care physicians are in a unique role to diagnose and treat eating disorders, reviews of medical education frequently show a lack of adequate training in their identification and treatment, and hence health care professionals may only detect an eating disorder once substantial medical and psychological consequences have developed. [4,5] Eating disorders are an important cause of physical and psychosocial morbidity in adolescent girls and young adult women. They are much less frequent in men.…”

Screening for eating disorders in a psychiatric outpatient population

“…As with weight monitoring, the investigation of eating habits in the primary care setting may also be of great practical utility (8). Despite this, gender (being female) continues to be the key feature for reaching a diagnosis of ED in primary care, it being given greater importance than weight or physical complications (9). However, patients with some form of eating disorder are seen much more often in primary care in the 5 years prior to ED diagnosis for psychological, gastrointestinal, or gynaecological problems (10).…”