How to Use a Screening Questionnaire to Detect Anorexia
A person who is underweight and depressed and who has dull skin and brittle hair may or may not be anorexic. These are common symptoms of several disorders, both physiological and psychological. If you suspect that you are anorexic, you may want to use a self-administered screening questionnaire designed to detect anorexia. While not the final word, such tests can start you on the road to correct diagnosis and treatment.
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Things You'll Need
- SCOFF clinical prediction guide
- Anorexia-Bulimia Questionnaire
- Thompson and Corbeau self-test
Instructions
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Find a Screening Test
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Decide on what kind of test you will take. Tests vary from the five-question SCOFF, which asks about vomiting, rapid weight loss and attitudes toward food and body image, to the 57-question Anorexia-Bulimia Questionnaire, which focuses more on physical symptoms and family medical history.
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2
Consider the purpose of the tests. The SCOFF is intended for use as a general screening tool, while the A-BQ is designed to uncover underlying medical conditions which may be causing the symptoms.
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3
Look at the tests that are available online, such as the SCOFF, the A-BQ at Caring Online and the Thompson and Comeau self-test at Mirror Mirror (see Resources below). You may use one or all of these, as they can be self-administered.
Administer the Test
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4
Take one or a combination of the online tests. Don't hesitate to ask for the help of family members or friends, since they may remember or notice symptoms that you do not.
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Score them as directed. If you test positive on any of them, make an appointment with your doctor right away.
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Stay vigilant to detect the possibility of an incorrect diagnosis. Keep in mind the other illnesses that can produce these problems, such as hyperthyroidism, diabetes and cancer.
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Tips & Warnings
Test designers recommend printing out an online test before taking it. It's easier to mark and remember the answers on a printed test.
Be truthful. Taking a screening test is the first step in getting help for your problem. If you are not honest, the test will do you no good.
Do not rely solely on a single test to detect anorexia. Look for less obvious physical symptoms, such as bradycardia (a slow heart rate) and amenorrhea (no menstrual period for 3 or more months).
Psychiatric conditions that often accompany anorexia include depression, social phobia, obsessive compulsive disorder and substance abuse.
