Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified - Proposed Changes To DSM-5

Proposed Changes To DSM-5

To address these concerns, the DSM-5 Eating Disorders Work Group has proposed several revisions to the diagnostic criteria, which they hope will reduce the reliance on EDNOS in clinical settings, and promote treatment-seeking and research among affected individuals. Specifically, DSM-5, which is scheduled for publication in spring 2013, will likely expand the diagnostic criteria for anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, and elevate binge eating disorder to a formally recognized diagnosis. Furthermore, DSM-5 plans to rename the EDNOS category Feeding or Eating Disorder Not Elsewhere Classified (FEDNEC), and to provide named descriptions of example presentations, including the following:

1. Atypical Anorexia Nervosa in which all criteria for anorexia nervosa are met except that the individual’s weight is within or above the normal range
2. Subthreshold Bulimia Nervosa (low frequency or limited duration) in which all criteria for bulimia nervosa are met except the binge eating and compensatory behaviors occur on average less than once a week and for less than 3 months
3. Subthreshold Binge Eating Disorder (low frequency or limited duration) in which all criteria for binge eating disorder are met, except the binge eating occurs on average less than once a week and for less than 3 months
4. Purging Disorder (PD) in which patients purge without binging; they consume a normal amount of food and typically maintain normal weight
5. Night Eating Syndrome (NES) in which patients have nocturnal eating episodes, or eat a large proportion of their daily calorie intake after dinner
6. Other Feeding or Eating Condition Not Elsewhere Classified which is a residual category for all other cases that are clinically significant but do not meet the criteria for formal eating disorder diagnoses