screening for anorexia nervosa
Last reviewed 11/2020
Target groups for screening for eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia nervosa include (1):
- young women with low BMI compared with age norms
- patients consulting with weight concerns who are not overweight
- women with menstrual disturbances or amenorrhoea
- patients with gastro-intestinal symptoms
- patients with symptoms or signs of starvation or repeated vomiting
- children with poor growth
- young people with type 1 diabetes and poor treatment adherence
The SCOFF questionnaire aids in early detection of possible cases of eating disorders. A few additional questions may be helpful in detecting eating disorders and eliciting psychopathology in target groups (1,2):
- do you worry excessively about your weight?
- do you think that you have an eating problem?
- do you avoid eating with others?
- which foods feel 'safe' to you and what do you avoid?
- what would you say your ideal weight is?
- how would you feel if you were the normal weight for your height?
- do you have compulsions to binge or over exercise?
- do you ever vomit, abuse laxatives, and/or diuretics?
- do you ever get depressed, feel guilty or suicidal?
- has your life become more ritualised?
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