How to Use the EDE-Q to Detect Anorexia

The EDE (Eating Disorder Examination) is unique among tests designed to detect anorexia because it comes in two forms: interview and questionnaire. There is some disagreement about which is a better predictor of anorexia or other disorders, but the EDE-Q is easier to administer. Its accuracy can be confirmed during the follow-up interview that is always done after a written test.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Copy of the EDE-Q (available only from health professionals)

1. Get information about the EDE-Q from your doctor. Ask whether or not he believes it would be appropriate for you.

2. Visit the Medical University of South Carolina website for more information about the EDE-Q test (see Resources below).

3. Find the sub-scale items that the EDE-Q measures. These include topics such as body image, weight concern and frequency of vomiting.

4. Look for a copy of the DSM IV criteria, an easy-to-understand list of symptoms, at Mental Health (see Resources below). It is the severity of these symptoms that the EDE-Q measures to detect anorexia.

5. Examine the four DSM symptoms and two types of eating disorders mentioned. Determine if any of these apply to you.

6. Make a doctor's appointment to take the test. Your doctor may want to use a different test. Follow her advice, but feel free to ask questions. Remember, there are numerous diagnostic tests used to detect anorexia, and each test has its own merits.

7. Go over the results of the test in person with your doctor or evaluator. Ask as many questions as you need to before beginning treatment for your condition.

Tips & Warnings

• The EDE-Q is geared to detect how closely a patient's attitudes and behavior come to matching DSM IV ("Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders," Fourth edition) standards. The DSM is the accepted standard among medical professionals.
• The EDE-Q is especially good for discovering anorexia in its early stages. It does not detect later stages quite as accurately.
• While medical professionals do use the EDE-Q to detect anorexia, it is more often seen as a tool to measure the tendency toward bulimia, especially in obese people. Your doctor may recommend a different test for you if she suspects that you are anorexic.
• Most search engine results for the EDE-Q are meant for the scientific community rather than the layperson.

Resources

• Information about the EDE-Q at the Medical University of South Carolina website.
• Detailed description of the EDE-Q at Google Books.
• The DSM IV Criteria for anorexia at Mental Health.

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