Overview
Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is a prevalent eating disorder affecting 2-3% of the US population, characterized by recurrent episodes of eating large quantities of food accompanied by a sense of loss of control 1.Diagnosis
Key Criteria: Recurrent episodes of binge eating, marked by eating an objectively large amount of food in a discrete period and feeling a lack of control 1.
Screening: Physicians should consider screening for BED, especially in obese patients, following review of DSM-5 criteria 1.
Evaluation: No specific diagnostic tests are universally recommended; clinical assessment and patient history are crucial 1.Management
First-Line Treatments: Psychotherapy, particularly Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), is recommended 1.
Adjunctive Treatments: Antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may be considered, though specific dosing is not detailed in the abstracts 1.
Case Report Insight: Anticonvulsants like diphenylhydantoin have shown response in cases with abnormal EEGs, though this is anecdotal and requires further study 2.Special Populations
Pregnancy: No specific data provided in the abstracts 12.
Pediatrics: Not addressed in the provided abstracts 12.
Elderly: Not addressed in the provided abstracts 12.
Comorbidities: Obesity is noted as a relevant comorbidity where screening for BED is particularly advised 1.Key Recommendations
Physicians should proactively screen for BED, especially among obese patients, following DSM-5 criteria (Evidence: Moderate 1).
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) should be considered as a first-line psychological treatment for BED (Evidence: Moderate 1).
Consider referral for pharmacotherapy, such as SSRIs, in conjunction with psychotherapy for patients not responding adequately to psychological interventions (Evidence: Weak 1).References
1 Supina D, Herman BK, Frye CB, Shillington AC. Knowledge of binge eating disorder: a cross-sectional survey of physicians in the United States. Postgraduate medicine 2016. link
2 Moore SL, Rakes SM. Binge eating - therapeutic response to diphenylhydantoin: case report. The Journal of clinical psychiatry 1982. link