CCED understands the emotional distress associated with eating disorders and offers psychiatric disorders treatment and other mental health treatment. We encourage you to speak with our Trusted Specialist.
Many individuals who are diagnosed with an eating disorder also will experience additional psychiatric disorders, such as obsessive compulsive disorder. These mental health disorders can be either preexisting, emerge with the eating disorder, or emerge when an individual enters recovery.
Many of the characteristics of the following disorders are shared by an eating disorder, which can complicate diagnosis until the primary disorder is effectively treated and understood. CCED addresses eating disorders and personality disorders simultaneously using Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by recurrent, persistent obsessions that are time consuming, cause marked distress or impairment, and are intrusive. Typically, the person realizes at some point that the compulsions are excessive or unreasonable.
A person diagnosed with an eating disorder will only be diagnosed with OCD if there are obsessions and compulsions that are not related to eating or food. Behavioral and pharmacological treatment will typically be required to help treat this disorder.
Depression
Many individuals with an eating disorder also will experience depression. While the link between the two disorders is not well understood, it is imperative an individual suffering from an eating disorder is also evaluated and treated for depression in order to best support the recovery process.
Signs of Depression include:
- A “low” or sad mood for a prolonged period of time, or irritability in adolescents and children
- Loss of interest in life activities
- Fatigue
- Sleep disturbances
- Diminished ability to concentrate
- Feelings of guilt or worthlessness, and thoughts of death or suicide
Anxiety Disorders
More than half of all women diagnosed with bulimia nervosa also will have an anxiety disorder. Likewise, there are elevated rates of anxiety disorders in women with anorexia nervosa. That’s why it is extremely important for an individual seeking treatment for an eating disorder also be screened and treated for any existing anxiety disorders.
Types of Anxiety Disorders include:
- Panic Attacks
- Obessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Phobias
Addictive Disorders
Addictive disorders are characterized by tolerance, dependence and withdrawal from a specific chemical substance(s). Many individuals with a binge eating component of an eating disorder also will experience difficulty with substance abuse or dependence.
In fact, individuals with an eating disorder are at higher risk for a substance abuse/dependence disorder. Patients seeking treatment at CCED will be encouraged to address any active addiction or dependence problems before beginning intensive treatment.
Personality Disorders
Personality disorders are most easily described as an ongoing pattern of behavior and internal experience that is different from what might be expected culturally, which leads to distress or impairment. The most commonly experienced personality disorder among eating disorder patients is borderline personality disorder.
Borderline personality disorder is characterized by a pattern of instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, mood and impulsivity.