About this course
When talking about eating disorders, one may believe its diagnosis is always clear. Different medical systems, such as gastroenterology, endocrinology, rheumatology, psychiatry, OB-GYN, and many more might be involved in the signs and symptoms patient might be presenting. The reason for this presentation is to put out there the difficulties one may encounter at the moment of making a diagnosis of an eating disorder. Different opinions might come in to place by other medical professionals, patient, and patient's family. Every eating disorder can be confused by other pathologies, if encountered with professionals who are not capable of detecting the differences of such pathologies with an ED, leading to misdiagnosing an ED. Nearly 80% of eating disorders go undetected. During this presentation, you will be able to determine some precise tools which will make a diagnosis undeniable. Following the presentation, participants will be able to understand the difficulties ED professionals might encounter at the time of an eating disorder diagnosis, be able to identify precise signs and symptoms that make us more drawn to a ED diagnosis versus a medical diagnosis, and be able to compare ED common signs and symptoms that might look like other medical diagnosis. We will be using a real life case who came into the office, presenting different signs and symptoms, all of which could have been different diagnosis. For example: Fatigue, fluctuation in weight: endocrine system, this can be confused with thyroid issues and cortisol issues. Missing period, ascites in pelvic region: OB-GYN may be confused with PCOS, endometriosis, and ascites in the pelvic region, which can be caused by pelvic inflammatory disease. Stomach pain and vomiting: Gastroenterology, this may be confused with food intolerances, gastritis, hernias, colitis. Muscle weakness: rheumatology, any autoimmune disorder like arthristis, myasthenia gravis, etc. Differential diagnosis: Anorexia Nervosa, Atypical Anorexia, Major Depressive Disorder, and was later diagnosed with Conversion Disorder, which can be presented with weakness, paralysis, abnormal movement, tremor, difficulty swallowing, all of which might be present in an eating disorder.
Note: The version of this session that is included in the virtual symposium is 2 hours long instead of 1.5 hours. Both sessions will still grant 1.5 CEs.
