About this course

Learning Objectives

• Identify common neurodivergent traits associated with eating disorders.
• Explain how neurocognitive differences may impact eating disorder symptoms and treatment engagement.
• Apply neurodiversity-informed principles to adapt assessment and treatment strategies.
• Identify the differences in nutritional interventions tailored to effectively treat neurodivergent clients.
• Explain how to incorporate findings from psychological assessments in order to tailor treatment to the individual needs of neurodivergent clients.

Learning Levels

• Intermediate
• Advanced

Course Instructor(s)

• 

  Steven Crawford. MD

  Dr. Steven Crawford is the National Medical Director of Physician Training and Development for Eating Recovery Center Pathlight. He previously served as the Regional Medical Director, overseeing the Illinois, Maryland, and Ohio regions.  He has also served as the Assistant Chief of Psychiatry at the University of Maryland-St. Joseph Medical Center.

  Dr. Crawford earned his medical degree from the University of Maryland School of Medicine and completed his psychiatry training in the University of Maryland Department of Psychiatry. He received fellowship training in eating disorders at the Center for Eating Disorders and has dedicated over thirty years to this field.

• 

  Lori Schwartz, MD

  Dr. Lori Schwartz is the Medical Director of the Maryland facilities at ERC Pathlight and continues to serve as a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist at the Hunt Valley, Maryland location. She specializes in the treatment of youth with eating disorders and has dedicated her career to helping young individuals challenge the thoughts and behaviors associated with these disorders. Dr. Schwartz provides care in both residential and partial hospitalization settings, guiding patients toward improved mental and physical well-being so they can regain a fulfilling, healthy lifestyle

  With extensive experience across various levels of care, Dr. Schwartz has treated patients with primary eating disorders in inpatient, residential, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and outpatient settings. She has also supported patients with comorbid conditions, including Major Depressive Disorder, Anxiety Disorders, Trauma Disorders, and ADHD. Dr. Schwartz is an active member of the American Psychiatric Association, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the Maryland Psychiatric Society, reflecting her commitment to staying at the forefront of her field.

  Dr. Schwartz received her B.S. in Neuroscience, Biology, and Psychology from Brandeis University, followed by her M.D. from the University of Illinois College of Medicine. She completed her Psychiatry Residency and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship at the University of Maryland/Sheppard Pratt. Board-certified in Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, she also holds an adjunct assistant professorship at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Outside of work, Dr. Schwartz enjoys spending quality time with her family.

References

• Cobbaert, L., Millichamp, A. R., Elwyn, R., Silverstein, S., Schweizer, K., Thomas, E., & Miskovic-Wheatley, J. (2024). Neurodivergence, intersectionality, and eating disorders: a lived experience-led narrative review. Journal of Eating Disorders, 12(1), 187. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-024-01126-5
• American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Autism spectrum disorder. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 5.
• Cobbaert, L., Minkov, R., & Zadow, M. (2021, December). Neurodivergence and eating disorders: Zooming in on sensory processing. In JOURNAL OF EATING DISORDERS (Vol. 9, No. SUPPL 1). CAMPUS, 4 CRINAN ST, LONDON N1 9XW, ENGLAND: BMC.