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• anorexia nervosa
• bulimia nervosa
• binge-eating disorder (not yet a formal psychiatric diagnosis)

• resistance to maintaining body weight at or above a minimally normal weight for age and height
• intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, even though underweight
• 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
• infrequent or absent menstrual periods (in females who have reached puberty)
• people with this disorder see themselves as overweight even though they are dangerously thin
• avoiding food and meals, picking out a few foods and eating these in small quantities, or carefully weighing and portioning food
• repeatedly checking body weight, engaging in other techniques to control weight, such as intense and compulsive exercise, or purging by means of vomiting and abuse of laxatives, enemas, and diuretics
• delayed onset of menstrual period
• complications include cardiac arrest or electrolyte imbalance, and suicide

• recurrent episodes of binge eating, characterized by eating an excessive amount of food within a discrete period of time and by a sense of lack of control over eating during the episode
• recurrent inappropriate compensatory behavior in order to prevent weight gain, such as self-induced vomiting or misuse of laxatives, diuretics, enemas, or other medications (purging); fasting; or excessive exercise
• self-evaluation is unduly influenced by body shape and weight
• fear of gaining weight
• desire to lose weight
• feeling intensely dissatisfied with physique
• patients often perform these behaviors in secrecy, feeling disgusted and ashamed when they binge, yet relieved once they purge

• recurrent episodes of binge eating, characterized by eating an excessive amount of food within a discrete period of time and by a sense of lack of control over eating during the episode
• the binge-eating episodes are associated with the following: eating much more rapidly than normal; eating until feeling uncomfortably full; eating large amounts of food when not feeling physically hungry; eating alone because of being embarrassed by how much one is eating; feeling disgusted with oneself, depressed, or very guilty after overeating
• binge eating not associated with the regular use of inappropriate compensatory behaviors (e.g., purging, fasting, excessive exercise)
• patients are overweight for their age and height
• feelings of self-disgust and shame associated with this illness can lead to bingeing again, creating a cycle of binge eating

• restoring weight lost to severe dieting and purging (usually provided in an inpatient hospital setting, where feeding plans address the person's medical and nutritional needs. In some cases, intravenous feeding is recommended)
• treating psychological disturbances such as distortion of body image, low self-esteem, and interpersonal conflicts
• achieving long-term remission and rehabilitation, or full recovery
• use of psychotropic medication in people with anorexia should be considered only after weight gain has been established
• certain selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been shown to be helpful for weight maintenance and for resolving mood and anxiety symptoms associated with anorexia
• psychotherapy (helpful once malnutrition has been corrected and weight gain has begun):
  
  
  • cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): can help people with Anorexia Nervosa overcome low self-esteem and address distorted thought and behavior patterns. Families are sometimes included in the therapeutic process.
  • interpersonal psychotherapy: helps people with Anorexia Nervosa to improve interpersonal relationships and to regularize their daily routines.

• nutritional rehabilitation, psychosocial intervention, and medication management strategies are often employed
• establishment of a pattern of regular, non-binge meals
• improvement of attitudes related to the eating disorder
• encouragement of healthy but not excessive exercise
• resolution of co-occurring conditions such as mood or anxiety disorders
• psychotherapy:
  
  
  • cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): can help people with Bulimia Nervosa overcome low self-esteem and address distorted thought and behavior patterns. Families are sometimes included in the therapeutic process.
  • interpersonal psychotherapy: helps people with Bulimia Nervosa to improve interpersonal relationships and to regularize their daily routines.

• fluoxetine (Prozac)
• fluvoxamine (Luvox)
• phenelzine (Nardil)
• buspirone (Buspar)
• olanzapine (Zyprexa)

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