Preface for International Journal of Eating Disorders special issue medical complications in eating disorders.

Abstract

Dear Readership, It is my great pleasure to present to you this special issue on medical complications in eating disorders for the International Journal of Eating Disorders. Eating disorders are complex psychiatric disorders and their treatment typically involves professionals from different specialties. This diversity of health care providers was a special motivation for me when editing this issue together with Dr. Philip Mehler. The medical complications of eating disorders are complex and it is important that anyone involved in the care of an individual with an eating disorder is aware of and understands those issues, regardless of whether we provide psychiatric or psychotherapeutic care, are a member of an interdisciplinary treatment team as a dietitian or occupational therapist, or provide medical care. The articles have been written with the goal to appeal to a broad readership, and by the same time we have made every effort to provide the most recent information and highest quality papers. Particularly important was for us that the information in the articles in this issue provide practical guidance for clinicians to help patients with eating disorders. There is debate whether providing the best medical care is primarily preventing morbidity and mortality or whether optimized medical care may even help shorten the duration of the eating disorder. What seems clear though is that the right medical care can improve quality of life for our patients and reduce suffering. Having worked in this field for 20 years, at first as a psychotherapist and then as psychiatrist and brain researcher, I deeply appreciate the medical aspects associated with eating disorders as patients typically are very grateful when they get relief from those complications. I would like to express my gratitude to Dr. Weissman, the Editor in Chief of the International Journal of Eating Disorders for making this issue possible, to Dr. Mehler for his hard work on this issue and especially to all authors and reviewers who helped compile these comprehensive reviews on medical complications in anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. I hope that you will find this special issue an interesting read, a helpful resource in your clinical work as well as an enrichment for your conceptualization of the pathophysiology of eating disorders. Guido K.W. Frank, MD, FAED Associate Editor, International Journal of Eating Disorders