[Eating disorders--diagnosis and treatment].

Anorexia nervosa and Bulimia nervosa are the main types of eating disorders described in the International Classification of Diseases ICD-10. The main features are eating patterns such as refusal to eat enough food or loss of control, followed by counter-regulatory measures. In addition, preoccupation with body shape and weight and with food is an important feature of eating disorders. Severe medical conditions may occur as a result to starvation, malnutrition and purging. Binge eating disorder has been included as an additional variant of disturbed eating in the American classification system of mental disorders (DSM-IV). The main characteristic of the binge eating disorder is binge eating, but without counter-regulatory measures. Patients with anorexia nervosa are foremost underweight (BMI < 17.5 kg/m2), those with a bulimia nervosa are usually in the normal weight range. On the other hand, patients with the binge eating disorder are overweight or obese. Etiological models are multifaceted and include predisposing and sustaining factors as well as triggers for the onset of the disorder. The course is variable and marked by changes between remission and clinically relevant symptoms. Psychotherapy is the treatment of choice.