Disentangling eating disorder diagnostic schemes. Commentary on Walsh et al., A systematic review comparing atypical anorexia nervosa and anorexia nervosa

This commentary discusses the systematic review by Walsh et al. that has found that people with atypical anorexia nervosa have similar symptoms and severity as have people with anorexia nervosa. In this paper, the discussion is broadened to other eating disorders diagnoses and the problem of overlap and crossover between syndromes that impacts adversely on the need for diagnoses to be distinct both at assessment but also over time. It is argued that the derivation of eating disorder diagnostic criteria has also been vulnerable to erroneous assumptions and biased observations. Whether atypical anorexia nervosa becomes a standalone diagnosis or is joined with an expanded anorexia nervosa, future delineations should be based on empirical research including neuroscience.

Automated summary

This commentary discusses a systematic review that reveals the similarity in symptoms and severity between people with atypical anorexia nervosa and those with anorexia nervosa. It also highlights the problem of overlap and crossover between different eating disorders diagnoses and argues for the need for distinct diagnoses both at assessment and over time. The article suggests that future delineations should be based on empirical research, including neuroscience.