Premium
Academy for eating disorders position paper: Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses
Author(s) -
Klump Kelly L.,
Bulik Cynthia M.,
Kaye Walter H.,
Treasure Janet,
Tyson Edward
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
international journal of eating disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.785
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1098-108X
pISSN - 0276-3478
DOI - 10.1002/eat.20589
Subject(s) - chapel , treasure , eating disorders , library science , state (computer science) , psychology , gerontology , psychiatry , medicine , history , art history , archaeology , algorithm , computer science
Position It is the position of the Academy for Eating Disor- ders (AED) that anorexia nervosa and bulimia nerv- osa, along with their variants, are biologically based, serious mental illnesses (BBMI) that warrant the same level and breadth of health care coverage as conditions currently categorized in this way (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder). As set forth below, we advocate this position unequivocally based on an emerging science that affirms with a reasonable degree of medical and scientific certainty that eat- ing disorders are significantly heritable; influenced by alterations of brain function; significantly impair cognitive function, judgment, and emotional stabil- ity; and restrict the life activities of persons afflicted with these illnesses. Accordingly, the denial or restriction of equitable and sufficient treatment necessary to avert serious health consequences and risk of death is untenable and should be vigorously protested.