The validity and clinical utility of night eating syndrome.

OBJECTIVE

To review the empirical literature for evidence in support of inclusion of Night Eating Syndrome (NES) in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

METHOD: Based on a literature search using PubMed, 47 empirical studies of NES were identified.

RESULTS

The literature reflects use of varying definitions; progress has been made toward reliable measurement of night eating symptoms; evidence regarding a differentiation of NES from "normalcy" or from other eating disorders is based largely on samples of convenience; only one controlled treatment study has been published.

DISCUSSION: There are limited data supporting the clinical utility and validity of NES; several options regarding the inclusion of NES in DSM-V are discussed.