Diagnostic Criteria for Anorexia Nervosa (DSM IV, 2000)

A. Refusal to maintain body weight at or above a minimally normal weight for age and height (e.g., weight loss leading to maintenance of body weight less than 85% of that expected; or failure to make expected weight gain during period of growth, leading to body weight less than 85% of that expected).

B. Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, even though underweight.

C. Disturbance in the way in which one's body weight or shape is experienced, undue influence of body weight or shape on self-evaluation, or denial of the seriousness of the current low body weight.

D. In postmenarcheal females, amenorrhea, i.e., the absence of at least three consecutive menstrual cycles. (A woman is considered to have amenorrhea if her periods occur only following hormone, e.g., estrogen, administration)

 

Diagnostic Criteria for Bulimia Nervosa (DSM IV, 2000)

A. Recurrent episodes of binge eating. An episode of binge eating is characterized by both of the following:

- eating, in a discrete period of time (e.g., within any 2-hour period), an amount of food that is

  definitely larger than most people would eat during a similar period of time and under similar

  circumstances

- a sense of lack of control over eating during the episode (e.g., a feeling that one cannot stop eating

  or control what or how much one is eating)

B. Recurrent inappropriate compensatory behavior in order to prevent weight gain, such as self-induced vomiting; misuse of laxatives, diuretics, enemas, or other medications; fasting; or excessive exercise.

C. The binge eating and inappropriate compensatory behaviors both occur, on average, at least twice a week for 3 months.

D. Self-evaluation is unduly influenced by body shape and weight.

E. The disturbance does not occur exclusively during episodes of Anorexia Nervosa.

 

   Prevalent symptoms in AN

Anxiety, irritable mood

Lethargy, poor concentration

Fatigue, weakness

Palpitation

Dizziness, faintness, syncope

Muscle aches ,cramps

Head ache 

Constipation

Cold intolerance

Abdominal pain

Dispepsia

Amenorrhea

Decreased sexual drive (males)

 Prevalent symptoms in BN

Irritable mood

Apathy, poor concentration

Weakness

Palpitation

Abdominal pain and discomfort in vomiting

Heartburn

Bloating in laxative abusers

Bowel irregularities

Throat ache

Teeth ache

 Headache, dizziness

 

Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (ED-NOS)

The Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified ED-NOS category is for disorders of eating that do not meet the criteria for any specific Eating Disorder.

i.e.:

For females, all of the criteria for AN are met except that the individual has regular menses.

All of the criteria for Anorexia Nervosa are met except that, despite significant weight loss, the individual's current weight is in the normal range.

All of the criteria for BN are met except that the binge Eating and inappropriate compensatory mechanisms occur at a frequency of less than twice a week or for a duration of less than 3 months.

The regular use of inappropriate compensatory behavior by an individual normal body weight after eating small amounts of food (e.g. self-induced vomiting after the consumption of two cookies).

Repeatedly chewing and spitting out, but not swallowing, large amounts of food.

Binge-eating disorder: recurrent episodes of binge eating in the absence of the regular use of inappropriate compensatory behaviors characteristic of BN.

 

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