[Diagnostic criteria for eating disorders: what will DSM-5 feature?]

The diagnostic criteria of the classic eating disorders anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) are characterized by both a high validity and clinical utility. However, up to 50% of patients in specialized eating disorder centers do not meet the full diagnostic criteria and are relegated to the residual diagnosis "eating disorders not otherwise specified (EDNOS)". Eating disorders are more varied and variable than the ICD-10 or DSM-IV criteria suggest. This article describes the suggested modifications of the diagnostic criteria for eating disorders for the DSM-5. The DSM-5 abstains from setting a specific numerical standard for weight for AN and reduces the required minimum frequency for BN and binge eating disorder (BED) to once a week over the last 3 months. This will likely reduce the number of cases in the EDNOS category. In addition, the DSM-5 provides brief descriptions of several conditions of potential clinical significance without providing detailed criteria in order to stimulate additional research.