Sarah O’Neil, MD
Child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist
Dr. O’Neil has disclosed that she has no relevant financial or other interests in any commercial companies pertaining to this educational activity.
Two self-report questionnaires, the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) and the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDQ Version 9.0), can help inform the clinician about the most symptomatic areas in a given eating disorder.
The EAT-26 (www.eat-26.com), a 26-item questionnaire, provides a list of eating disorder symptoms that your patients can identify to help you assess whether they have clinically relevant eating behaviors and body preoccupations (Garner D et al, Intl J Eating Dis 1987;12:871-878). Providers can print a free copy for their practice after obtaining permission online.
The EDQ Version 9.0 is a self-report questionnaire that provides data on key behavioral features of an eating disorder. It is available at no cost at http://bit.ly/S86rdC (Mond JM et al, Intl J Eating Dis 2004;42(5):551-567).
The Multi-Service Eating Disorder Association also has a great website (www.MEDAinc.org), where you can find resources such as provider lists, common signs and symptoms of an eating disorder, perspectives on eating disorders from recovered patients, and patient and professional educational material.
The American Academy of Eating Disorders (www.aedweb.org) is an organization devoted to research, prevention and treatment of eating disorders. Its website offers information for clinicians, patients, and families. The AED Report is a readable booklet that provides information about early recognition of an eating disorder and management of medical problems that may arise as a result.