From DSM-IV to DSM-5: changes to eating disorder diagnoses

This article reviews the modifications to eating disorders that appear in the 'Feeding and Eating Disorders' chapter of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). These modifications include the addition of three disorders (avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, rumination disorder, and pica) previously described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR) section 'Feeding and Eating Disorders of Infancy or Early Childhood'; clarifications and modifications to anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa; and the inclusion of binge eating disorder as a formal diagnosis.

Research suggests that the majority of individuals seeking treatment for an eating disorder are classified as eating disorder not otherwise specified based on DSM-IV criteria. Using DSM-5 criteria, many of these individuals will be reassigned to a diagnosis with greater clinical utility. A large body of research also supports the inclusion of binge eating disorder as a formal diagnosis.

The changes to eating disorders, recommended by the Eating Disorders Work Group, aim to clarify existing criteria and to decrease the frequency with which individuals are assigned to the heterogeneous residual category, eating disorder not otherwise specified, which provides little clinical utility.