DSM-5: Binge Eating in, Obesity Out

Yesterday, the draft version of the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) was released for public comment until April 20.

The book, which serves mental health professionals, is also used by insurance companies making decisions on treatment coverage and in courtrooms and schools. It was last revised in 1994.

From what I’ve been able to garner from the news wires, the new Manual now clearly lists and identifies binge eating but not obesity as a mental health disorder.

This is probably a good thing.

While there is no doubt that binge eating disorder is a syndrome that requires specific mental health intervention, the same cannot necessarily be said for all of obesity.

This is not to say that a large proportion of overweight and obese individuals may also have mental health problems ranging from poor body image to major depression, addictions or attention deficit disorder – I have often blogged about this before.

But clearly, not everyone with excess weight also has a mental health diagnosis and certainly not all overweight patients need to be seen by a mental health professional.

Indeed, as previously noted, obesity is really only the clinical manifestation of caloric excess, and is as such more a clinical sign than a discrete entity in itself. It would therefore make no sense to list obesity as a mental illness or to expect that all obese individuals must now seek help from a mental health professional.

Nevertheless, given the importance of mental health problems either as promoters and/or consequences of weight gain or as important barriers to weight management, having mental health expertise in a weight management program is absolutely essential.

I am sure that the DSM-5 will prompt a wide range of debates and discussions and I will certainly take a closer look at the relevant segments of this intimidating document.

The final version of the manual is due to be published in 2013.

Certainly appreciate comments from any of my readers who work in mental health.

AMS

Vienna, Austria