Symptoms used to diagnose
The ruleRecurrent binge eating at least once a week for 3 months, with marked distress and 3+ of the features below, without regular compensatory behaviours.
Symptoms
- Eating much faster than normal
- Eating until uncomfortably full
- Eating large amounts when not hungry
- Eating alone from embarrassment
- Disgust, low mood or guilt afterwards
How diagnosis works
- Binges with at least 3 of: eating rapidly, until uncomfortably full, when not hungry, alone due to embarrassment, feeling disgusted or guilty afterwards.
- Marked distress about bingeing.
A diagnosis is made by a qualified clinician after a full assessment — this summary is to help you understand it, not to self-diagnose.
Commonly used medications
Therapies & support
- CBT-ED
- Guided self-help
Sources
- 01Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR)
American Psychiatric Association, 2022
- 02ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics — Chapter 6: Mental, behavioural or neurodevelopmental disorders
World Health Organization, 2022
- 03The Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines
Horowitz & Taylor, Wiley-Blackwell, 2024