title: Empirical classification of eating disorders.
abstract: Although the eating disorder nosology has become refined over the years, considerable problems remain. The purpose of the present study was to empirically examine eating disorder classification using a sample of treatment-seeking eating-disorder patients. One hundred and fifty-nine patients with diagnoses of anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), and eating disorder, not otherwise specified (EDNOS), were included in a cluster analysis using a variety of eating disorder variables. Findings revealed four clusters, with three clusters resembling AN, restricting type, BN, and binge-eating disorder (BED). The remaining cluster appeared to be a group of patients that were subthresholded in terms of symptom severity. Results also indicated a relatively poor fit between the empirically derived groupings and clinical diagnoses. The implications of these findings for both the current classification system and treatment considerations are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Temple University, Weiss Hall, Philadelphia 19122, USA. dsloan@temple.edu
authors.forename: Denise M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Sloan
authors.forename: J Scott
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Mizes
authors.forename: Eva M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Epstein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D036262:Empirical Research; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans