Diagnosis and classification of eating disorders in adults with intellectual disability: the Diagnostic Criteria for Psychiatric Disorders for Use with Adults with Learning Disabilities/Mental Retardation (DC-LD) approach.
BACKGROUND
Previous classifications of eating disorders [EDs] employed a narrower concept of EDs. They did not include the wide range of abnormal eating behaviours [AEBs], persistent feeding disorders and EDs psychopathology, aetiological and comorbidity factors seen in adults with intellectual disability [ID].


METHODS
The International Classification of Diseases--10 [ICD-10], ICD-10-MR, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual--IV [DSM-IV] and Diagnostic Criteria for Psychiatric Disorders for Use with Adults with Learning Disabilities/Mental Retardation[DC-LD] diagnostic approaches to EDs in adults with ID are compared.


RESULTS
The DC-LD encourages conceptually clearer and systematic hierarchical differential diagnostic classification of AEBs and EDs. The DC-LD also allows consideration of relevant aetiological and comorbidity issues. DC-LD-based multi-axial case formulation supports the multimodal clinical assessment of AEBs and EDs.


CONCLUSIONS
Further research should develop similar systematic and evidence-based multicomponent clinical diagnostic, management and service models for adults with ID and EDs.
D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000150:complications*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results