Neglected topics in eating disorders: guidelines for clinicians and researchers

Abstract

Over the past few decades, there has been significant progress in research on eating disorders that has informed the clinical management of these difficult, and sometimes refractory, disorders. Indeed, sufficient progress has been made such that practice guidelines have been offered to delineate standards of clinical care and guidance to clinicians in the treatment of bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa. Out of necessity, however, the practice guidelines are based on a combination of research-based recommendations and clinical consensus because of significant gaps in the extant research. Nonetheless, clinicians must confront these clinical issues. The purpose of this special series is to address areas of significant clinical importance that have a very modest research literature, and to briefly summarize the existing research. The authors of the individual papers, all noted experts in eating disorders treatment, then offer practical clinical management recommendations drawing both on the modest available research and their extensive clinical experience.