Eating disorders have the second highest mortality rate of any mental health diagnosis. Despite this staggering statistic, most healthcare professionals have limited to no training concerning the diagnostic criteria and treatment of eating disorders. To complicate matters, many patients with eating disorders experience acute and/or chronic pain. People with chronic pain are also at a higher risk of developing an eating disorder. Eating disorders may go undetected in people with pain conditions as doctors may assume eating changes are related to medical causes or depression. Both chronic pain and eating disorders are among the most complex conditions healthcare professionals can encounter. When they occur concurrently, treatment challenges are heightened, and it is imperative that patients see healthcare professionals who have been properly trained in these areas. This session will discuss the different types of eating disorders and comorbid psychological and medical diagnoses. Participants will also be provided with an overview of treatment options, and case based scenarios will be discussed.
