Eating disorders: A hidden phenomenon in outpatient mental health?
BackgroundEating disorders are common but underdiagnosed illnesses. Help-seeking for co-occurring issues, such as anxiety and depression, are common.ObjectivesTo identify the prevalence of eating problems, using the SCOFF, and eating disorders when screening positive on the SCOFF (i.e., =2), among p...
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| Format: | Journal Article |
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John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
2014
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/12278 |
| _version_ | 1848748032959447040 |
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| author | Fursland, A. Watson, Hunna |
| author_facet | Fursland, A. Watson, Hunna |
| author_sort | Fursland, A. |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | BackgroundEating disorders are common but underdiagnosed illnesses. Help-seeking for co-occurring issues, such as anxiety and depression, are common.ObjectivesTo identify the prevalence of eating problems, using the SCOFF, and eating disorders when screening positive on the SCOFF (i.e., =2), among patients seeking help for anxiety and depression at a community-based mental health service.MethodPatients (N?=?260) consecutively referred and assessed for anxiety and depression treatment were administered the SCOFF screening questionnaire and a semi-structured standardized diagnostic interview during routine intake.Results18.5% (48/260) scored =2 on the SCOFF, indicating eating problems. Of these, 41% (19/48) met criteria for an eating disorder. Thus, overall, 7.3% (19/260) of the sample met criteria for a DSM-IV eating disorder. Those scoring =2 on the SCOFF were more likely to: be female (p?=?0.001), younger (p?=?0.003), and have a history of self-harm (p?<?0.001).DiscussionThis study confirms that eating disorders are a hidden phenomenon in general outpatient mental health. By using a standardized diagnostic interview to establish diagnosis rather than self- or staff-report, the study builds on limited previous findings. The naturalistic study setting shows that screening for eating disorders can be easily built into routine intake practice, and successfully identifies treatment need |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T06:58:36Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-12278 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T06:58:36Z |
| publishDate | 2014 |
| publisher | John Wiley & Sons, Inc. |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-122782017-09-13T14:58:45Z Eating disorders: A hidden phenomenon in outpatient mental health? Fursland, A. Watson, Hunna screening eating disorders SCOFF anxiety co-morbidity depression BackgroundEating disorders are common but underdiagnosed illnesses. Help-seeking for co-occurring issues, such as anxiety and depression, are common.ObjectivesTo identify the prevalence of eating problems, using the SCOFF, and eating disorders when screening positive on the SCOFF (i.e., =2), among patients seeking help for anxiety and depression at a community-based mental health service.MethodPatients (N?=?260) consecutively referred and assessed for anxiety and depression treatment were administered the SCOFF screening questionnaire and a semi-structured standardized diagnostic interview during routine intake.Results18.5% (48/260) scored =2 on the SCOFF, indicating eating problems. Of these, 41% (19/48) met criteria for an eating disorder. Thus, overall, 7.3% (19/260) of the sample met criteria for a DSM-IV eating disorder. Those scoring =2 on the SCOFF were more likely to: be female (p?=?0.001), younger (p?=?0.003), and have a history of self-harm (p?<?0.001).DiscussionThis study confirms that eating disorders are a hidden phenomenon in general outpatient mental health. By using a standardized diagnostic interview to establish diagnosis rather than self- or staff-report, the study builds on limited previous findings. The naturalistic study setting shows that screening for eating disorders can be easily built into routine intake practice, and successfully identifies treatment need 2014 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/12278 10.1002/eat.22205 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. restricted |
| spellingShingle | screening eating disorders SCOFF anxiety co-morbidity depression Fursland, A. Watson, Hunna Eating disorders: A hidden phenomenon in outpatient mental health? |
| title | Eating disorders: A hidden phenomenon in outpatient mental health? |
| title_full | Eating disorders: A hidden phenomenon in outpatient mental health? |
| title_fullStr | Eating disorders: A hidden phenomenon in outpatient mental health? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Eating disorders: A hidden phenomenon in outpatient mental health? |
| title_short | Eating disorders: A hidden phenomenon in outpatient mental health? |
| title_sort | eating disorders: a hidden phenomenon in outpatient mental health? |
| topic | screening eating disorders SCOFF anxiety co-morbidity depression |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/12278 |