2 / 13
Page 17
Notes:
allied
academies
Nov 22-23, 2018 | Paris, France
Joint Event
Nutrition and Health
16
th
International Conference on
26
th
International Conference on
Diabetes and Endocrinology
&
Journal of Insights in Nutrition and Metabolism | Volume 2
The assessment of eating disorders
Bridget Rivera
Purdue University Global, USA
R
esearch illustrates that few professionals who work with
clients struggling with eating disorders regularly used
validated eating disorder instruments and many rely largely
on clinical interactions (Anderson and Paulosky, 2004; Towne,
DeYoung & Anderson, 2017). Given that eating disorders are
a complex mental health issue, with potential high morbidity
rates validated the use of assessment is warranted.
Psychological assessment is an integral component of
evidenced-based practice (APA Presidential Task Force on
Evidenced Based Practice, 2006). This presentation will
address the importance of assessing symptomatology
of eating disorders as well as motivation for change and
treatment. Tests and the assessment process in general will
be reviewed with a discussion of the difference between
interviews, self-report and performance-based tests. The
Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) (Fairburn and Cooper,
1993) and the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire
(EDEQ) (Fairburn & Beglin, 1994) will be discussed, as they
are the most commonly used assessment methods for eating
disorders (Towne, DeYoung & Anderson, 2017). In addition
to using single methods to explore symptomatology, it is
also imperative to understand a patient’s psychological
functioning, personality organization and potential
attachment style in order to accurately treatment plan.
Michel (2002) presented the common challenges associated
with assessment and treatment of eating disorders, these
include: denial, lack of motivation for change and treatment
resistance, and lack of insight. In addition, she recognized
the importance of sociocultural and psychosocial variables
that inform the etiology of the disorder and thus treatment
for the patient. The psychological assessment process will
be discussed with a focus on therapeutic assessment as
an important method to ameliorate the challenges to the
assessment and treatment of eating disorders.
Speaker Biography
Bridget Rivera is a licensed clinical psychologist and full-time faculty member for
Purdue University Global. Her research interests are in the field of psychological
assessment and diversity training. She was awarded the Martin Mayman award from
the Society for Personality Assessment in 2010 for distinguished contribution to the
literature. She has over 15 years of clinical experience, including a focus on working
with clients struggling with body image and eating issues. In addition to her time
teaching for Purdue University Global, she also has a small private practice where
she enjoys seeing clients individually and conducting psychological assessment.
e:
brivera@purdueglobal.edu