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Addressing the EDNOS issue and improving upon the utility of DSM‐IV: Classifying eating disorders using symptom profiles
Author(s) -
Dunn Erin C.,
Geller Josie,
Brown Krista E.,
Bates Mollie E.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
european eating disorders review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.511
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1099-0968
pISSN - 1072-4133
DOI - 10.1002/erv.1005
Subject(s) - eating disorders , psychology , association (psychology) , dsm 5 , medical diagnosis , clinical psychology , body mass index , psychiatry , medicine , psychotherapist , pathology
Objective To compare the descriptive and clinical utility of two classification systems: DSM‐IV eating disorder diagnoses and proposed symptom profiles. The symptom profiles are based on the presence of overvalued ideas about shape/weight, as well as combinations of three key eating disorder symptoms (e.g. body mass index (BMI) above or below threshold and the presence or absence of bingeing and purging behaviours). Method The two systems were compared on their ability to offer descriptively useful information in classifying individuals with eating disorders. In addition, we examined our system's unique contribution to clinical outcome and its relation to readiness for change. Results Classifying individuals via symptom profiles provided information about eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS), a prevalent, heterogeneous and under‐researched diagnostic category. Symptom profiles outperformed the DSM‐IV diagnostic system in the ability to account for variation in patients' decision to enrol in treatment, performing comparably to readiness for change. Conclusion Classifying individuals according to symptom profile and readiness for change appears to have more descriptive and clinical utility than the current diagnostic system. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.