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Member | Janice posts 44 1:49 pm February 10, 2010
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The DSM (Diagnostic and Statistics Manual) used for diagnosing mental health disorders is being updated. Currently, it includes anorexia nervosa and bulemia. There will be a new addition to eating disorders. From the article:
Recognizing binge eating — eating very large amounts of food at least once a week for three months and feeling severe guilt and unhappiness — as a specific disorder distinct from bulimia, because binge eaters don't purge. Criteria for anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa would also be improved, and the definitions of some eating disorders would change to reflect how they may develop after childhood.
I wonder how others perceive this, and what kind of impact it might have by approaching obesity from a psycho-medical model as opposed to a more psycho-social model. Thoughts?
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Member | Cheri posts 84 7:50 pm February 10, 2010
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Janice,
Global News also mentioned the proposed changes to the DSM-5 and apparently they are looking for feedback so if anyone wants to review the proposed changes and comment this is the link:
http://www.dsm5.org/Pages/Default.aspx
Cheri
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Member | Frances posts 404 2:29 am February 12, 2010
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I work in a psych facility and had never heard about the DSM-5 before. We have worked out of the DSM-4. I don't know if there are differences between the american and canadian versions. I'll have to ask one of the doctors that I work with. I'm not really a fan of labelling people's disorders. Sometimes people get defined by their labels rather than the person that they are, who happens to have a specific mental illness. While some disorders are due to chemical imbalances in the brain and are treated by medications and the possibilities of other treatments, I'm not so sure that I would want to be labeled by my eating disorder, especially if I'm able to take responisiblity for my disorder and get the counselling that I need to deal with past issues. Frances
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Member | Cheri posts 84 8:54 am February 12, 2010
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I can understand what you are saying Frances… There are so many different perceptions surrounding mental illness and we all have our own way of viewing them. I work for a child developement centre supporting children with "exceptionalities"(disabilities for those who prefer it) in childcare settings, preschools, pretty much anywhere a child needs support to attend a program. I am also a Behaviour Interventionist working with children with autism. So many parents struggle with the news that their children may receive a diagnosis of some sort so much so that they refuse to go through with assessments and testing just to avoid having their child "labelled". I am very torn by this but as a parent I understand. When I see what support and therapy can do to help prepare children and their families for the transition to school and then on to adulthood, I just can't help but wonder which route I would pick.
The DSM-4 is the bible for categorizing mental illiness for now and after all the proposals have been considered and it has been changed the DSM-5 will be the new "word". There is no funding for intervention/support without a diagnosis for many including the public school system so I guess it is on a needs basis.
Mental illness is so taboo still in this day and age. I am quite "happy" to state that I take a daily "happy pill" (Wellbutrin XL) and will do so for the rest of my life if my brain can't chemically balance it's self. I also would have to say that my obesity pretty much screamed eating disorder of some kind and I would have loved to have a diagnosis if it would have made the doctors stop telling me to just eat less and exercise more. I needed help…thank you counselling and gastric bypass surgery.
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Member | Roxeanne posts 434 10:14 am February 12, 2010
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Cheri
Thank you for your openness and honesty in your post. I think if they actually started recognizing Obesity as a disorder then we would see a lot of changes. At least that would be my hope. We have some similiarities in what we do for work. I am on call as an EA and full time I work in a group home with Adults who have autism.
Can I ask you something though? What training did you need to be a Behavioural Interventionist? How did you find the job? Where are you? That is something I would love to do.
Roxeanne
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Member | Janice posts 44 11:09 am February 13, 2010
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I guess one of the things that might be challenging for including binging is that it may or may not lead to obesity. I wonder if overeating that leads to obesity actually falls under the category of "addiction" – iirc, they have included gambling in that section now.
It is good they are looking at eating and weight issues, but it will be tricky to find out which section they will fall under – and what about obese people who fall under neither?
I guess the question remains about whether obesity is primarily due to physical, psychological, or lifestyle (choice). It seems to me each case would have to identify a cause before proceding with a treatment plan.
And if it is psychological, the treatment for psych disorders is primarily meds. Will we be giving obese people meds to treat psych issues and ignor the obesity?
How can we move from the bio-psycho-medical model to a more bio-psycho-socio-spiritual model, where the person is treated as a whole being without being reduced to a diagnosis?
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Member | Frances posts 404 12:50 am February 14, 2010
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Good points Janice. I think that some have obesity due partially to genetics, others as a coping mechanism – ie:low self-esteem which could lead to depression. In reading that I have done, it is quite common for those who struggle with obesity often leads to depression and once the individual starts counselling often, not always, depression is lifted. Why can't doctors just be more supportive, so that individuals will be able to make the decision to do what they can to lose the weight and gain the necessary tools for this to happen. I guess that I'm lucky that I have a physician that is willing to listen, is supportive and patient with me. Doesn't the individual have some responsibility?
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