Investigating the DSM‐5 severity specifiers based on thinness for adults with anorexia nervosa
Abstract
Objective: The DSM‐5 severity classification scheme for adults with anorexia nervosa (AN) is based upon current body mass index (BMI; kg/m 2). This study examined the utility of the DSM‐5 severity specifiers for adults with AN in relation to core cognitive and behavioral features of eating pathology and associated psychosocial impairment. Methods: A clinical sample of 146 adult AN patients (140 women, 6 men) were categorized using DSM‐5 current BMI severity specifiers and assessed with the Eating Disorder Examination‐Questionnaire (EDE‐Q) and Clinical Impairment Assessment (CIA). Results: A total of 34 (23.3%) patients were categorized as mild (>=17.0 BMI), 35 (24.0%) as moderate (16‐16.99 BMI), 32 (21.9%) as severe (15‐15.99 BMI), and 45 (30.8%) as extreme (<15 BMI). No significant group differences were found for age, CIA and EDE‐Q global or subscale scores, frequency of laxative use, self‐induced vomiting, binge eating, or excessive exercise. Discussion: This study found little empirical evidence to support the utility of DSM‐5 severity rating scheme to differentiate adults with AN in terms of core eating disorder pathology or associated psychosocial impairment.
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Research has provided limited support for the DSM-5 low BMI specifier ratings across both European and US samples.
“To date, research has provided limited support for the DSM-5 low BMI specifier ratings across both European [81–84] and US [85, 86] samples.”
From Mental, behavioral and neurodevelopmental disorders in the ICD-11: an international perspective on key changes and controversies (2020) · cites this paper as [84]
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- Authors
- Reas, D. L., & Rø, Ø.
- Affiliations
- Oslo University Hospital (NO)
- Corresponding author
- Reas, Deborah Lynn
- Venue
- International Journal of Eating Disorders
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2017-06-07
- Volume
- 50
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 990-994
- ISSN
- 0276-3478 (ISSN-L)
- 1098-108X
- OpenAlex
- W2623294790
- Cited by
- 30
- References
- 31
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 1
- FWCI
- 4.74
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- International Journal of Eating Disorders (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Child Nutrition and Feeding Issues
- Keywords
- anorexia nervosa, adult anorexia nervosa, body mass index, severity rating, psychosocial impairment, eating pathology, Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire, laxative use, self-induced vomiting, binge eating, excessive exercise
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Anorexia Nervosa, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Surveys and Questionnaires, Thinness, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Young Adult
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