Eating Disorders: Recognition and Treatment

Excerpt

There are over 700,000 individuals in the UK with an eating disorder (Beat, 2015). While the prevalence is relatively stable, the number of cases identified in clinical settings is increasing as clinicians become more aware of these disorders and patients come forward more readily (Currin et al., 2005; Soundy et al., 1995). However, many cases remain unidentified.

Eating disorders are poorly identified in non-specialist NHS settings. These disorders are usually long-lasting and have serious implications, including risk of death, impaired health, psychiatric comorbidity and poor quality of life for the patient and those around them. Since the 2004 NICE guideline, two strands of evidence have emerged that necessitate a new eating disorders guideline in 2017. First, there is now far more evidence of efficacious treatments (both physical and psychological). Second, it has become clear that clinicians vary substantially in their identification of cases and their delivery of the evidence-based treatments that are recommended.