BINGE EATING DISORDER: CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS AND CONSIDERATIONS

Course overview

Many people experience episodes during which they consume extremely large amounts of food over a short period of time while simultaneously feeling an inability to stop or control their eating. These experiences are referred to as binge eating episodes or binge episodes. Although binge episodes can be a symptom of multiple psychological disorders, frequent episodes of binge eating that are not a result of these other disorders are now classified under the separate diagnosis of binge eating disorder (BED) in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5); American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013). worsen problems for the individual and impair his or her relationships with family and friends. Because many professionals working in clinical settings are unfamiliar with the specific diagnostic criteria or clinical considerations for BED, it is commonly misdiagnosed as another eating disorder, such as bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa, or eating disorder not otherwise specified. However, the treatment approaches for BED can differ from those used for other eating disorders, and such a misdiagnosis could affect the course of treatment and treatment success for a patient. This course is designed for healthcare professionals in various clinical practice settings including psychologists, social workers, nurses, marriage and family therapists, and mental health counselors who may come into contact with individuals exhibiting BED. This course provides information to help clinicians better identify and treat individuals with the disorder. This course provides the most current information about BED, including material on the differential diagnosis of BED from related disorders, potential causes of BED, associated features of BED, negative health implications of BED, and pharmacological and psychological options for treating BED in various settings.