THE EVALUATION OF EATING AND WEIGHT SYMPTOMS IN THE GENERAL-HOSPITAL CONSULTATION SETTING

Eating disorders (ED) in the medically ill population have seldom been studied. The objective of this study is to review a series of medical and surgical patients referred for psychiatric evaluation for a presu med ED. Between 1982 and 1990, a series of 65 patients were referred f or psychiatric consultation to evaluate for an ED. All patient records were reviewed for demographic, medical, and psychiatric information, including medical course following the consultation. Sixty-three perce nt of the study population were referred by internal medicine services . The most common presenting symptoms were self-induced vomiting (39.1 %), binge eating (34.4%) and weight loss (31.3%). Bulimia nervosa (n = 21), anorexia nervosa (n = 19), and no psychiatric diagnosis (n = 18) were the most frequent diagnoses. Record review suggested significant challenges to accurate earing disorder diagnoses in patients presenti ng with primary medical complaints.