Diagnosis of Eating Disorders

Central topics of the chapter are: screening for eating disorders, disorder-defining symptoms, the detection of which is necessary for confirming or denying the diagnosis of an eating disorder according to DSM or ICD, as well as clinically relevant symptoms that should be diagnosed for preparation and monitoring of therapy. The chapter also describes techniques of operationalized psychological diagnostics and symptom inventories that are helpful in accompanying therapy. Medical diagnostics in eating disorders primarily serve to ward off dangers from the consequences of malnutrition, vomiting, or consequences of overeating, and to a lesser extent, the exclusion of differentially diagnostic significant conditions.