I created this video because I have been hearing from a lot of you that you want to discuss the diagnosis of EDNOS (eating disorder not otherwise specified). Now EDNOS is really a “catch all” for people who have an eating disorder but do not quite meet the criteria for the other diagnosis. As I have said before in other videos, these diagnosis are created for professionals in the field to help with treatment planning and are used in order to receive coverage from an insurance plan. I truthfully believe most ED clients fall into this category because, as we all know, eating disorders are shaper shifters. You may restrict for a few months and fall into the anorexia diagnosis and then binge and purge for awhile and fit the bulimia criteria. Therefore, EDNOS is the only diagnosis that makes sense, right? So I hope that clarifies what EDNOS is and why it is used in treatment plans, and as always do not hesitate to comment below or leave your questions.

- Kati

Kati Morton, MFTI

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TRANSCRIPT:

Hey! Thanks for checking back, now today the topic that I’d like to talk to you a little bit about something that I’ve been thinking about and I’ve been hearing a lot of feedback about. Which is great because it really makes me feel good to know that you’re watching, you’re listening, and I’m not alone just creating these videos and people think it’s really weird. So thanks for your feedback!! I’ve been hearing from a lot of you that you want me to address the EDNOS diagnosis. Now for those of you who may not be really used to the different acronyms I know we use a lot of acronyms especially when it comes to different diagnosis but, EDNOS stands for eating disorder not otherwise specified. Okay well that sounds like a lot of things right that’s really what it is it’s kind of a bucket to catch all when we as therapist, psychiatrist, maybe primary care doctors when we see someone who is struggling with an eating disorder and they don’t quite fit the criteria for bulimia or a binge eating, or an anorexia diagnosis. They fall under EDNOS that sounds like a lot of things right? Why would they even create this? Well when I’m calling an insurance company because you come to see me, and maybe sometimes you restrict you’ve lost a little weight, but then sometimes you binge and you don’t purge. Than other times maybe months later you come to see me and you’re bingeing and purging only. Okay, at that point you might meet the criteria for bulimia but then like months later you’re restricting you’ve dropped all the weight that you gained while you were in recovery because you have a tough time. Then you’re back to anorexia and that can get really confusing, right? That’s a lot of switching for my paper work at first that’s a lot, right? So, we’re gonna make it a little bit simpler EDNOS. When I call the insurance company and I hope to get coverage I give them what’s going on what criteria you meet what criteria you don’t meet and why you fall into that category. Does that make sense? I hope that’s kind of clear so really the only reason that we have any of these diagnosis is really from my purpose or standpoint it is for coverage, for insurance. It also gives us a little bit of a treatment plan to work with. Okay, so you’re struggling with this, this sometimes this maybe you use laxatives maybe you don’t but it gives us a way to kind of settle in on something where we can work together. We can set goals knowing what your struggles are and what we hope to accomplish. So I hope that’s clear and I know that a lot of you have wanted me to address this. I know a lot of us fall under EDNOS because eating disorders are shape shifters they might start out as anorexia then they turn into bulimia and a lot of times I have patients that’ll be strictly one way they go into treatment they come out the complete opposite. Because in treatment you were either forced to follow a meal plan or they allowed you to boost, they call it boosting when you don’t want to finish a meal, they give you a shake instead. All of those different things that they do in an inpatient facility can change our eating disorders. It starts finding ways to get sneaky and keep us locked in. I hope that clarifies and if you have any questions, like I always say, comment below. I love to not feel alone. Make sure if you have questions or comments you can follow me on twitter I get on that daily and so I would love to get some feedback and don’t forget to subscribe, so that each time I post a new one, let’s say this week you comment and you’re like I’d like to know about this, when I post it you’ll hear about it. So let’s continue as we learn more, we work harder towards a healthy mind healthy body.