Binge Eating Disorder DSM IV: An OverviewDSM IV is the abbreviated form for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition. It usually is written in the form DSM-IV-TR, in which TR stands for text revision. Like many other disorders, for Binge Eating Disorder DSM IV guidelines are available for diagnosis, treatment and other related procedures. It is a manual that is published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA). It includes all the currently identified psychiatric health disorders. The coding system used by DSM-IV is formulated in such a way that it corresponds with the codes used by the International Classification of Diseases (ICD).
Though binge eating disorder is not yet identified as a fully qualified mental disorder, the APA has specified some DSM IV criteria. This is in connection to binge eating disorder. The following are some of the diagnostic criteria given in the DSM IV for binge eating disorder. The first is repeated binge eating. This involves eating abnormally huge amounts of food in very short time duration, and possessing no control over eating. The second criteria is that such episodes are accompanied with 3 or more of the following. This comprises feelings of guilt, depression and disgust for having eaten too much, feelings of loneliness, rapid eating, eating lots even when not hungry, and eating till uncomfortable. Thirdly, binge eating will not be followed by an attempt to purge oneself of all the excess food that was eaten. This is usually the case with bulimia and anorexia. Here are some warning signs that APA has associated with binge eating such as anxiousness, depression, late night eating, loneliness, and preference for seclusion over an active public life. A binge eater may gain weight very fast, and it may fluctuate often. He may feel disappointed and disgusted with himself. He will hoard food and will eat at all times possible. This eating disorder may have a lot of consequences such as substance abuse, suicidal thought, pregnancy complication, ovarian and menstrual abnormalities, skin disorders, respiratory problems, arthritis, stroke, diabetes, kidney, gall bladder and bone diseases, high cholesterol and blood pressure and many more complications that may arise from obesity. Some treatment plans are recommended for treating binge eating disorder by the APA under the DSM IV. Cognitive behavioral therapy is the most commonly used method. Here, the patient is trained to change and control their own eating habits. This helps to alter their way of responding to stressful and difficult situations. Interpersonal Psychotherapy involves teaching the patient to analyze their relationships with their families and friends and to act upon troublesome areas. The kind of medication recommended for binge eating are usually antidepressants. Thus for combating the growing problem of Binge Eating Disorder DSM IV guidelines are laid down by the APA. These are followed by psychiatrists and doctors all over the U.S. |