Emergency Medicine Cases
Ep 202 Eating Disorders: Common, Commonly Missed, Mismanaged and Misunderstood
Feb 18, 2025
Samantha Martin, a pediatrician specializing in adolescent medicine, and Jennifer Tomlin, an emergency medicine clinician, discuss the often-overlooked signs of eating disorders in emergency settings. They reveal the high mortality rates associated with these disorders and the common misdiagnoses due to vague symptoms. The conversation emphasizes the importance of early detection, the role of family dynamics in recovery, and critical screening techniques like the SCOFF questionnaire. They also cover the medical complications of eating disorders and the vital need for clinicians to probe deeper into patient histories.
01:27:43
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Quick takeaways
- Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric illness, yet they are often missed in emergency settings due to vague symptoms.
- Early identification and timely treatment of eating disorders are critical in improving long-term outcomes and preventing irreversible health issues.
Deep dives
Prevalence and Mortality of Eating Disorders
Eating disorders affect approximately 2-3% of North Americans, translating to around a million individuals in Canada and 10 million in the U.S. Alarmingly, these disorders have the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric illness, with a mortality rate of 10-15 percent. Emergency medicine providers often overlook the significance of eating disorders in their practice despite their severity and prevalence. It's crucial for emergency physicians to recognize the importance of understanding and identifying these disorders in presenting patients.
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