05 Jul The Complexity of Eating Disorder Recovery in the Digital Age
Order Instructions
Both eating disorders and somatic symptom disorders involve a mind-body relationship. However, those living with somatic disorders tend to be highly sensitized to their body experiences in a different way than those with eating disorders. While eating disorders can cause individuals to lose their interoceptive awareness of the body, those with somatic disorders tend to have a magnified awareness, often coupled with preoccupation and a high level of anxiety that is deemed to be excessive to the cause.
These spectrums of illness require that social workers take an early-intervention, multidisciplinary, and biopsychosocial approach to treatment to be successful in supporting recovery. Both require knowledge and extensive communication with medical providers and other specialists. That priority for interdisciplinary knowledge and teamwork increases in importance given the mortality rates of eating disorders and the mind-body factors in both.
This week you analyze the impact of living with an eating disorder and the problems (nutritional, medical, social, and psychological) in the recovery process. You also consider current societal influences that impact the onset, recognition, and recovery process for eating disorders and somatic symptom disorders.
Learning Objectives
Students will:
Analyze the impact of the digital age and social influences on eating disorders
Analyze biopsychosocial treatment strategies for eating disorders
Apply advocacy strategies within an interprofessional treatment approach
Analyze treatment strategies for clients with somatization disorders
Analyze challenges with power and privilege during diagnosis
Learning Resources
Required Readings
American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Feeding and eating disorders. In Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed., text rev.).
American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Somatic symptom and related disorders. In Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed., text rev.).
Khalsa, S. S., Portnoff, L. C., McCurdy-McKinnon, D., & Feusner, J. D. (2017). What happens after treatment? A systematic review of relapse, remission, and recovery in anorexia nervosa. Journal of Eating Disorders, 5(20), 1–12. doi:10.1186/s40337-017-0145-3
Lewis, B., & Nicholls, D. (2016). Behavioural eating disorders. Paediatrics and Child Health, 26(12), 519–526. doi:10.1016/j.paed.2016.08.005
Brown, P., Lyson, M., & Jenkins, T. (2011). From diagnosis to social diagnosis. Social Science & Medicine, 73(6), 939–943. doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2011.05.031
Kaltura Media Uploader (HTML)
Required Media
Accessible player
Walden University, LLC. (Producer). (2018d). Psychopathology and diagnosis for social work practice podcast: Feeding and eating disorder and somatic symptom disorders [Audio podcast]. Baltimore, MD: Author.
TEDx Talks. (2016b, June 29). Starving for the good: An anorexic’s search for meaning and perfection | Elisabeth Huh | TedxUChicago [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxI0ewBJdMo
TEDx Talks. (2013b, October 21). An epidemic of beauty sickness | Renee Engeln | TedxUConn 2013 [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/63XsokRPV_Y
TED Conferences, LLC (Producer). (2016). What happens when you have a disease doctors can’t diagnose [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/jen_brea_what_happens_when_you_have_a_disease_doctors_can_t_diagnose
Optional Resources
Axelsson, E., Andersson, E., Ljótsson, B., Finn, D. W., & Hedman, E. (2016). The health preoccupation diagnostic interview: Inter-rater reliability of a structured interview for diagnostic assessment of DSM-5 somatic symptom disorder and illness anxiety disorder. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, 45 (4), 259–269. doi:10.1080/16506073.2016.1161663
Marzilli, E., Cerniglia, L., & Cimino, S. (2018). A narrative review of binge eating disorder in adolescence: Prevalence, impact, and psychological treatment strategies. Adolescent Health, Medicine and Therapeutics, 2018(9), 17–30. doi:10.2147/AHMT.S148050
Vartanian, L. R., Trewartha, T., & Vanman, E. J. (2016). Disgust predicts prejudice and discrimination toward individuals with obesity. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 46(6), 369–375. doi:10.1111/jasp.12370
Document: Suggested Further Reading for SOCW 6090 (PDF)
Note: This is the same document introduced in Week 1.
Discussion: The Complexity of Eating Disorder Recovery in the Digital Age
Through this week’s Learning Resources, you become aware not only of the prevalence of factors involved in the treatment of eating disorders, but also the societal, medical, and cultural influences that help individuals develop and sustain the unhealthy behaviors related to an eating disorder. These behaviors have drastic impacts on health. In clinical practice, social workers need to know about the resources available to clients living with an eating disorder and be comfortable developing interdisciplinary, individualized treatment plans for recovery that incorporate medical and other specialists.
For this Discussion, you focus on guiding clients through treatment and recovery.
To prepare:
Review the Learning Resources on experiences of living with an eating disorder, as well as social and cultural influences on the disorder.
Read the case provided by your instructor for this week’s Discussion.
By Day 3
Post a 300- to 500-word response in which you address the following:
Provide the full DSM-5-TR diagnosis for the client. Remember, a full diagnosis should include the name of the disorder, ICD-10-CM code, specifiers, severity, and the Z codes (other conditions that may be a focus of clinical attention). Keep in mind a diagnosis covers the most recent 12 months.
Explain the diagnosis by matching the symptoms identified in the case to the specific criteria for the diagnosis.
Explain why it is important to use an interprofessional approach in treatment. Identity specific professionals you would recommend for the team, and describe how you might best utilize or focus their services.
Explain how you would use the client’s family to support recovery. Include specific behavioral examples.
Select and explain an evidence-based, focused treatment approach that you might use in your part of the overall treatment plan.
Explain how culture and diversity influence these disorders. Consider how gender, age, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, and/or ethnicity/race affect the experience of living with an eating disorder.
Note: You do not need to include an APA reference to the DSM-5-TR in your response. However, your response should clearly be informed by the DSM-5-TR, demonstrating an understanding of the risks and benefits of treatment to the client. You do need to include an APA reference for the treatment approach and any other resources you use to support your response.
