Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions that require a comprehensive and collaborative team approach for diagnosis and treatment. Certified Eating Disorder Therapists, Psychologists, and Psychiatrists can diagnose eating disorders and provide treatment options. Multi-interdisciplinary teams work together to determine what level of care would best support patients struggling with eating disorders and co-occurring issues. They use questionnaires (Eating Disorder Inventory EDI, SCOFF questionnaire.), structured interviews (e.g., EDE-Q), and medical tests (Blood work, bone density scans, ECGs to assess complications).
Types of Eating Disorders
1. Anorexia Nervosa (Restricting type or Binge-eating /purging type)
- Symptoms: Extreme restriction of food intake, intense fear of gaining weight, distorted body image.
- Physical Signs: Low body weight, fatigue, hair thinning, cold intolerance. Binge eating/purging type includes; (self-induced vomiting or the misuse of laxatives).
2. Bulimia Nervosa
- Symptoms: Binge eating followed by purging (vomiting, excessive exercise, laxatives).
- Physical Signs: Dental erosion, electrolyte imbalance, inflamed throat, swollen salivary glands.
3. Binge Eating Disorder
- Symptoms: Recurrent binge eating without purging, feelings of shame or guilt.
- Physical Signs: Weight fluctuations, gastrointestinal issues, comorbid obesity.
4. Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED)
- Symptoms like those above but do not meet full criteria for specific disorders.
Treatment of Eating Disorders
Certified Eating Disorder Professionals are credentialed to work with patients struggling with an eating disorder and co-occurring issues. A collaborative team approach is essential for treatment and includes an Eating Disorder Psychotherapist, Certified Eating Disorder RD, Certified Eating Disorder Psychiatrist, and a Certified Eating Disorder Medical Doctor. A wholistic approach including a Certified Eating Disorder Acupuncturist or Certified Eating Disorder Yoga Therapist can be supportive to the recovery process.
Psychotherapy with an CEDS-C, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Family-Based Therapy (FBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Radically Open DBT (RO DBT), Somatic Experience or Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Internal Family Systems, are widely used approaches to treat eating disorders.
Inpatient, Residential Care, PHP, and IOP
- For severe cases where outpatient treatment is not sufficient, especially if there’s medical instability or risk of self-harm.