Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD): Self-Assessment Tests


HealthyPlace.com: Body Dysmorphic Disorder in Children

Butler Hospital: Screening Questionnaire for Adults.

Butler Hospital: Screening Questionnaire for Adolescents.

Clayton Therapy: Body Image Test for Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Pamguide.com: Body Dysmorphic Self-Test


See also: BDD: Body Dysmorphic Disorder


Recovery Quote Of The Week: September 25th


"And the day came when the risk to remain tight inside the bud was greater than the risk it took to bloom."
Anais Nin



Please see:
*sidebar "Inspirational Quotes" and "Recovery Quotes of the Week" for links to more recovery quotes.

*archives for more quotes of the week.

sources:flower pic: freepicturesphotos.com

Eating Disorders In The News: September 2008


Treatment Can Help Break Cycle of Binge Eating Disorder

Binge eating disorder is defined as feeling out of control while eating a large quantity of food in a short period of time. Although it is the newest classification of eating disorders, more people suffer from binge eating disorder than anorexia and bulimia combined.

Unlike bulimia, people with a binge eating disorder do not purge, use laxatives, fast or engage in strenuous exercise as a means to get rid of extra calories.

As a result, most people with a binge eating disorder are overweight or obese. Because of this, they are at higher risk for diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, menstrual problems, sleep problems, gallbladder disease and certain types of cancer.

Read in full here.

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Struggling With An Eating Disorder

The numbers are hard to come by, and they're approximate, but experts say as many as 4 percent of all women will struggle with an eating disorder at some point in their lives.

The numbers are only estimates because so few victims are willing to admit their disease.

Read in full here.

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Increasing Number of Men Succumbing To "Good Looks and Anorexia"

Eating Disorders are no longer exclusively women’s territory, say the experts. In fact, the number of men suffering from anorexia has been on the rise for quite sometime now. Some even claim to have seen more male anorexia referrals than females.

Professor Hubert Lacey, the head of the eating disorder unit at St George's hospital in Tooting, south London, attributes the rise in male sufferers to greater social pressure on men to look good.

"Last week for the first time ever I had more male referrals for anorexia than female.

Read in full here.

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Drug Abused for Weight Loss; Deadly Similarity to Cocaine

(Rochester, N.Y.) -- Popping pills to lose weight is not a new practice. But the newest pill of choice, Adderall, is a prescription drug, that when abused, has effects similar to cocaine.

Adderall speeds up the metabolism and releases more dopamine to the brain, creating a sense of euphoria and decreasing appetite. Doctors use Adderall to treat hyperactivity and narcolepsy.

While it is a stimulant, it has a calming affect on patients. But. if abused, it can raise blood pressure and heart rate-which can be fatal.

Read in full here.

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The Number of Web Sites Promoting Anorexia and Bulimia Has Increased 470% Since 2006, According to Optenet Research


MIAMI, Sept 24, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Analysis of nearly three million random URLs also reveals that over one-third contain pornography
Optenet, a global IT security company and provider of high-performance content filtering solutions, today announced the results of a report showing that adult content on the Internet -- including pro-anorexia and bulimia, racism, violence and child pornography -- has significantly increased since the end of 2006.
The report utilizes Optenet's unique traffic analysis and classification engine for dynamic traffic, which combines artificial intelligence with traditional content filtering technology to categorize Web site and Web 2.0 content. The report tracks Internet content trends since the end of 2006, based on a random sampling of nearly three million Web sites from around the world. Key findings include:

-- Pro-anorexia and bulimia web sites have increased by 470 percent;

Read in full here.

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National Eating Disorders Assn. Issues Strategies For School To Identify, Assist Students With Eating Disorders

NEW YORK,, Sept 24, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- In response to an increasing demand from educators for hands-on strategies to deal with eating disorders among students, the National Eating Disorders Association has produced a toolkit of the latest information on how to identify and assist students at risk for anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder.
Guidelines for teachers, administrators and staff include:

Read in full here.




sources: http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20080924/LIVING0106/809240335/-1/COLUMNS *www.cfnews13.com/Health/KnowYourNumbers/2008/9/23/struggling_with_an_eating_disorder.html*http://www.medindia.net/news/Increasing-Number-of-Men-Succumbing-to-good-Looks-and-Anorexia-42194-1.htm*http://www.13wham.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=8f459f19-aa37-4c97-a572-6c17f065bf9b*http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/national-eating-disorders-assn-issues/story.aspx?guid={D7EF1684-FFB8-4432-BB28-62EED01F06EB}&dist=hppr*picture source: bigfoto.com

Eating Disorders: What Parents Can Do



Below you will find some informative links to help parents in the fight against eating disorders.

NEDA (National Eating Disorders Org): 10 Things Parents Can Do To Prevent Eating Disorders

ANRED (Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorder Inc): Eating Disorders Prevention: Parents Are Key Players

A Chance To Heal: Your Role In Eating Disorder Prevention

Kaboose: What Parents Should Do

Kids Health Org: Eating Disorders


picture source: http://www.free-pictures-photos.com/misc/index.htm

Recovery Quote Of The Week: September 18th



"It's never to late to be what you might have been."
George Eliot



Please see:
*sidebar "Inspirational Quotes" for links to more recovery quotes.

*archives for more quotes of the week.

Increased Anxiety and Depression in Pregnant Women With Bulimia


Pregnant women with bulimia have more anxiety and depression
Physorg.com

Women who have bulimia in pregnancy have more symptoms of anxiety and depression compared to pregnant women without eating disorders. A new study from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) shows that they also have lower self-esteem and are more dissatisfied with life and their relationship with their partner.

The findings come from the world's first major population study of psychosocial factors in bulimia (bulimia nervosa) during pregnancy. Bulimia in pregnancy can have serious consequences for both mother and child.

The new study includes more than 41 000 pregnant women who responded to a questionnaire from the Norwegian Mother and Child Study (MoBa) from the NIPH.

Higher incidence of physical and sexual abuse

Out of more than 41 000 pregnant women, 96 (0.2 %) met the criteria for broadly defined bulimia (bulimia nervosa) in the first trimester of pregnancy. 67 of the women reported that they had also had bulimia six months before pregnancy, while 26 had developed bulimia after becoming pregnant. It is unknown whether these women had bulimia earlier in life.

Women with bulimia reported lower self-esteem and less satisfaction with life and their relationship with their partner. In addition, they reported a higher prevalence of symptoms associated with anxiety and depression.

Women with bulimia reported a higher prevalence of life-long physical abuse, sexual abuse and major depression compared with others, says Cecilie Knoph Berg at the Division of Mental Health at the NIPH.

Women who had bulimia six months before pregnancy but who were symptom-free in the first trimester, experienced higher self-esteem and satisfaction with life compared to other women with persistent symptoms.

Bulimia was measured six months before pregnancy and in the first trimester of pregnancy by completing the questionnaire in the first trimester.

Knoph Berg is the first author of "Psychosocial factors associated with broadly-defined bulimia nervosa during early pregnancy: Findings from the Norwegian mother and child cohort study" which is published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry.


Read in full here.
See also: Pregnancy and Eating Disorders: Important Information




source: http://www.physorg.com/news140862450.html
picture source: http://www.clker.com/

BULIMIA: Internet-Based Study of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy


E Science News

"The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is leading a novel clinical trial to compare the effectiveness of online cognitive behavioral therapy, delivered through a Web site and augmented with therapist-moderated, weekly online chat sessions, to face-to-face group therapy for the treatment of bulimia nervosa. "For individuals with bulimia nervosa – an eating disorder characterized by binge eating and purging behaviors – face-to-face cognitive behavioral therapy or CBT has long been considered the gold standard of treatment," said Cynthia M. Bulik, Ph.D., William and Jeanne Jordan Distinguished Professor of Eating Disorders and director of the UNC Eating Disorders Program, who is the study's principal investigator.

The Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic (WPIC) of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center will also take part in the study. Marsha D. Marcus, Ph.D., Professor of Psychiatry and Psychology and Service Chief of the Center for Overcoming Problem Eating (COPE), serves as the principal investigator at the Pittsburgh site."

Read in full here.


Sources:http://esciencenews.com/articles/2008/09/15/unc.wpic.conduct.internet.based.study.cognitive.behavioral.therapy.bulimia

picture source:http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/details.php?gid=85&sgid=&pid=834

Poll: My Recovery, One Word At A Time


What words help define your experience with your ED Recovery? In the sidebar you will find an anonymous poll, My Recovery, One Word At A time, where you can share your words with others who are also in recovery from their ED, and help those that aren't in recovery (or are attempting to recover) to relate and better understand.

If the list is missing words that are important to you and your experience please feel free to share them in the comment section to this post.


Participation is always greatly appreciated. Thank You.

Completed Poll Results:

My Recovery, One Word At A Time (choose as many words as you feel relate to your ED recovery).
Votes: 26















Joy 8 (30%)
Freedom 11(42%)








Security 3 (11%)








Identity 12 (46%)








Elusive 4 (15%)








Community 4 (15%)








Fear 17 (65%)








Difficult 20 (76%)








Fleeting 3 (11%)








Enduring 3 (11%)








Happy 6 (23%)








Anxiety 14 (53%)








Support 10 (38%)








Affirming 6 (23%)








Effortless 0 (0%)








Failing 12 (46%)








Attempting 12 (46%)








Succeeding 6 (23%)








Desired 15 (57%)








Unwanted 5 (19%)








Renewed 5 (19%)








Unnecessary 2 (7%)








Assisted 4 (15%)








Monitored 5 (19%)








Depressing 10 (38%)








Inspired 7 (26%)








Considering 3 (11%)








Unassisted 2 (7%)








Panic 10 (38%)








Apprehensive 9 (34%)








Scary 15 (57%)








Amazing 12 (46%)

More Polls/Results

Psychiatric Advance Directive for Eating Disorder Treatment


What is a Psychiatric Advance Directive? Known as a PAD, a psychiatric advance directive is a fairly new legal document, much like a living will. It is a tool for conveying your instructions and preferences, to both your family and the medical community, regarding future mental health treatment in the event you are incapable of giving informed consent concerning your treatment during acute episodes of psychiatric illness.

Though a PAD states your preferences for hospital/facilities, medication, and refusal of certain procedures, there are situations/conditions in which it would not be followed due to conflicts with; emergency treatment, accepted community practice standards, and/or applicable law.

You can get more information about Psychiatric Advanced Directives in your state here.

For information on PADs please visit:
National Resource Center on Psychiatric Advanced Directives (NRC*PAD)


sources:http://www.nrc-pad.org/

Recovery Quote of the Week: September 11


"Our way is not soft grass, it's a mountain path with lots of rocks. But it goes upward, forward, towards the sun."
Ruth Westheimer



Please see:
*sidebar "Inspirational Quotes" for links to more recovery quotes.

*archives for more quotes of the week.

DIABULIMIA: Conference Planned to Set International Standards for Treatment

Park Nicollet Hosts Conference to Explore the Best Treatment of Diabulimia.

ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn., Sept. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Leaders in the fields of diabetes and eating disorders from across the U.S. and Canada will convene in Minneapolis to begin the process of setting international standards for treatment of the dual diagnosis of these two disorders. Organizers want to raise awareness, collect current best practices, define research questions and submit a peer reviewed paper to a major medical journal critically reviewing this field. They also hope to identify international centers for treatment and establish an ongoing collaborative network.

"It's time to get the experts together, not only to review the research, but to learn from each other," says Richard Bergenstal, MD, Executive Director of the International Diabetes Center at Park Nicollet, and co-host of the conference.

Read in full here.

See also: Diabulimia: The Restriction Of Insulin For Weight Loss.


sources:http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/1550508/park_nicollet_hosts_conference_to_explore_the_best_treatment_of/

picture source:http://media.photobucket.com/image/syringe/67cupchamps/Syringe-715850.jpg?o=33

Recovery Quote Of The Week: September 4



"The most important of life's battles is the one we fight daily in the silent chambers of the soul."
David O. McKay



Please see:
*sidebar "Inspirational Quotes" for links to more recovery quotes.

*archives for more quotes of the week.