ATYPICAL EATING DISORDERS

Atypical eating disorders are classified in DSM III-R as disorders of eating that do not meet the criteria for a specific eating disorder due to absence of particular clinical criteria (frequency of symptom, clinical sign, and in special instances gender or age).

This chapter discusses the presence of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa in children, males, and females beyond age 25 and in the elderly are also presented. In addition, cultural presentations of anorexia nervosa in Blacks and Hispanics, anorexia nervosa in neuropsychiatric conditions, and eating disorders associated with medical conditions, hyperphagic conditions, and eating disturbance in various endocrine disorders are also reviewed. Core psychological conflicts, etiologic considerations, precipitating events, prognosis, and treatment specific to these unusual and atypical presentations are also discussed.