Clinical Interventions for Binge Eating Disorder

Running head: INTRO TO CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY 1
Intro to clinical psychology
Name
Institution

Contents
CLINICAL INTERVENTIONS USED TO TREAT PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS.............3
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
BINGE EATING DISORDER........................................................................................................4
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF BINGE EATING DISORDER.................................................4
REASONS FOR BINGE EATING..............................................................................................5
INTERVENTIONS USED TO DIAGNOSE BINGE EATING DISORDER................................6
TREATMENT PLAN FOR BINGE EATING DISORDER...........................................................7
PSYCHOTHERAPY...................................................................................................................7
COGNITIVE BEHAVIOURAL THERAPY...............................................................................7
JUSTIFICATION FOR USING COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY TO TREAT
BULIMIA........................................................................................................................................8
ROLE OF COMMUNITY PSYCHOTHERAPISTS IN REDUCING THE PREVALENCE OF
BINGE EATING DISORDER........................................................................................................9
IMPROVING SELF ESTEEM AND ENCOURAGING POSITIVE BODY IMAGE...............9
DEALING WITH STRESS AND DEPRESSION....................................................................11
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................12
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................13
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CLINICAL INTERVENTIONS USED TO TREAT PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS.
INTRODUCTION
Psychological disorders are behavioral patterns that are expressed by some people which may
affect their lives in various areas. There are many kinds of psychological disorders, including
eating disorders.
Eating disorders are related to a person’s eating habits and usually impact their health negatively.
They can also affect one’s emotions as well as other areas in their lives. The most common
eating disorders are binge eating, bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa.
Binge eating is a condition characterized by episodes of excessive eating within a short time. The
individual often feels out of control and ends up eating often to a point of discomfort as well as
eating even when they are not hungry(Wu et al, 2014)
Bulimia nervosa in some ways is similar to binge eating. It only differs from it in that after a
binge episode the individual tends to purge through taking laxatives or inducing vomit. This is
usually done as a result of feeling guilty for consuming more food than they wanted to, or as a
way to control weight( Hay et al, 2010)
Anorexia nervosa is characterized by consuming less food than is typically required by the body.
(Attia, 2010) A person suffering from anorexia nervosa can be seen as being much disciplined
and they are very careful about what they eat, often avoiding food with high sugar or fat. They
consume very few calories which in time causes self-starvation(Jones et al, 2017)
There have been various methods that have been used to treat eating disorders. Some have been
more useful and successful compared to others. The method that has been used which provided
the highest rate of success is psychotherapy, sometimes combined with other methods such as
medication, weight loss programs, change in lifestyle, home remedies and support from friends
and family( Attia, 2010)
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BINGE EATING DISORDER
It is characterized by episodes of excessive eating which happens within a short time.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF BINGE EATING DISORDER
 The disappearance of food within a short time. There could be indicators of large
amounts of food consumed such as empty wrappers and containers.
 Eating faster than normal until uncomfortably full.
 The individual is uncomfortable eating around other people and avoids eating in public
due to embarrassment of the amount of food eaten.
 Goes through a lot of unsuccessful diets including unhealthy ones such as cutting out
entire food groups and skipping meals.
 Steals and hides food in unconventional places so as to eat it in private, sometimes not
even considering hygiene.
 Keeps a schedule of times to binge eat.
 Expresses a more introverted behavior, becoming withdrawn from family and friends and
stops participating in usual activities.
 Is concerned about body weight and body image, often examining oneself for flaws in the
mirror. This eventually leads to low self-esteem.
 Has secret binge eating sessions that are timed and feel out of control.
 Binge eating occurs at least once a week over a period of three months.
 Have irregular eating patterns such as skipping meals, not having scheduled meal times,
eating little during main meals and participating in repetitive diet plans that often fail.
 Fluctuations in gaining and losing weight due to failed or unsustainable diets.
 Difficulty concentrating and being unable to remember what was eaten after a binge
episode.
 The individual may be aware of their binge eating problem and show marked distress
over the same.
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