| Eating disorders are complex mental illnesses with concurrent physical repercussions. Impairment in functioning is comparable across eating disorders, both full-spectrum and sub-clinical. Sub-clinical eating disorders, referred to as EDNOS (Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified -- DSM-IV-TR category), represent the most commonly given eating disorder diagnosis. EDNOS has been called a residual category, which alludes to the trouble clinicians have in diagnosing eating disorders due to primary diagnostic and classification criteria that are described as exclusive and arbitrary. When clinicians make the EDNOS diagnosis, this inevitably encompasses a wide variation of eating disorder behaviors and severities. Diagnosing and treating sub-clinical eating pathologies is thus problematic, due to a lack of sufficient diagnostic and classification information, and a lack of sufficient research literature. More information on sub-clinical eating pathology is therefore needed. The current study sought to provide a new perspective on sub-clinical eating pathology in women using feminist and archetypal theory. These theories were applied to examine the sociopolitical, psychological, and spiritual causes of this disorder. A set of guidelines was then created to offer new perspectives and approaches to treatment. Professional evaluato... |
