Logo image
An evaluation of food addiction as a distinct psychiatric disorder
Journal article   Peer reviewed

An evaluation of food addiction as a distinct psychiatric disorder

Erica M. Schulte, Thomas A. Wadden and Kelly C. Allison
The International journal of eating disorders, v 53(10), pp 1610-1622
01 Oct 2020
PMID: 32725769

Abstract

Life Sciences & Biomedicine Nutrition & Dietetics Psychiatry Psychology Psychology, Clinical Science & Technology Social Sciences
Objective To evaluate the state of the literature for whether food addiction may warrant consideration as a distinct psychiatric disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) using Blashfield et al.'s (1990;Comprehensive Psychiatry,31(1), 15-19) five criteria. This framework was utilized because it has recently been applied to examine the diagnostic utility of several eating disorder phenotypes. The criteria are: (a) at least 50 journal articles published on the proposed syndrome in the past 10 years; (b) proposal of diagnostic criteria and assessment measures; (c) clinician reliability in diagnosis; (d) cohesiveness of the proposed diagnostic criteria; and (e) differentiation from similar, existing diagnostic categories. Method For each criterion, a literature review was conducted to examine if the minimum qualification had been met, and key findings were discussed. Results Two of the criteria (literature and differentiation) have been empirically supported to extent specified. Two criteria (diagnostic criteria and syndrome) have been partially fulfilled, due to only having self-report assessment measures and no examination of the odds ratios for meeting more than one symptom, respectively. Clinician reliability has not yet been evaluated. Discussion The existing literature suggests that food addiction may warrant consideration as a proposed diagnostic category in the DSM, though future research is needed to fulfill Blashfield et al.'s (1990;Comprehensive Psychiatry,31(1), 15-19) criteria. The development of a semi-structured interview would be an impactful contribution for addressing these gaps.

Metrics

5 Record Views
27 citations in Scopus

Details

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#3 Good Health and Well-Being
#5 Gender Equality

InCites Highlights

Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:

Web of Science research areas
Nutrition & Dietetics
Psychiatry
Psychology
Psychology, Clinical
Logo image