Massachusetts General Hospital

Welcome to the website for the MGH Eating Disorders Clinical and Research Program. We hope that both clinicians and individuals who are seeking information about our program and about eating disorders more generally will find these web pages both useful and user-friendly.

Our objective in this website is to assist individuals as well as clinicians in finding care for an eating disorder in our program. We recognize that many of you have questions about whether you might need care, what care is likely to help you or your family member, or how to find a clinician. We also know that seeking care for an eating disorder can be intimidating and even off-putting. In fact, we have been alarmed by recent research findings that confirm that a majority of individuals with an eating disorder may never find professional care for their illness.

The reasons for such poor access to care are not fully understood. We know there is good evidence for missed opportunities to initiate care in primary care and other mental health settings. We are especially concerned about evidence that clinicians have difficulty in recognizing eating disorders across diverse populations. We know that many individuals with an eating disorder are reluctant to seek care. We suspect that some of their reluctance may stem from misperceptions about who is at risk for an eating disorder. Although eating disorders have been misconceived as illnesses that mostly affect white girls and women, recent research suggests that the populations at risk for an eating disorder are far more diverse. Both this research and our clinical experience have taught us that the face of an eating disorder has become far more diverse with respect to ethnicity, age, and gender.

Like many eating disorders programs, we are a small group of dedicated clinicians and researchers with vast and still growing collective experience and expertise in the management of eating disorders. Also like many mental health clinicians, we are interested in extending our expertise not only to our patients, but also to other health care professionals. We have begun to address this aspect of our mission by offering opportunities for professional training as well as pro bono case consultation. If you are a clinician, we invite you to avail yourself of these options.

We are delighted that you have reached our website. Please stay tuned for new information on publications and links of interest as well as discussions of eating disorders in the news.

Professional Staff:
Melissa Abraham, Ph.D.
Christina Baker, Ph.D.
Anne Becker, M.D., Ph.D., Sc.M.
Megan Moore Brennan, M.D.
Judy Craver, Ph.D.
Sherrie Delinsky, Ph.D.
Byron Garcia, M.D.
Rosalind Kearney, PsyD.
Kimberly Pearson, M.D.
Helen Riess, M.D.
Nicole Simi, Ph.D.
Jennifer J. Thomas, Ph.D.
Audrey Tolman, Ph.D.

MGH and McLean Hospital Affiliates:
Klarman Center for Eating Disorders

Neuroendocrine Unit:
Anne Klibanski, M.D.
Karen Miller, M.D.
Madhusmita Misra, M.D. (contact for adolescent studies)
Erinne Meenaghan, N.P.

MGH Weight Center:
Lee Kaplan, M.D., Ph.D.

Department of Dietetics:
Laurie Ann Danca, R.D.

Division of Adolescent Medicine:
Mark Goldstein, M.D.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder Program:
Sabine Wilhelm, Ph.D.

Research Coordinator:
Olga Levin

Students:
Jessica Agnew-Blais
Kristen Fay
Jonas Joseph Thompson-Mccormick
Asenaca Bainivualiku
April Opoliner
Aliyah Shivji

Clinical Coordinators:
David Mrakovich
Brett LaPierre
Frederick LaFleur
Courtney Clabby

Clinical Reception:
Alissa Charles

Neuroendocrine

Physicians at the internationally recognized Neuroendocrine Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital are now conducting several exciting research studies aimed at learning more about the mechanisms of bone loss in anorexia nervosa and applying novel treatments that may help improve bone density in this population.

The Neuroendocrine Unit is actively recruiting both adolescent and adult participants for several research studies. Educational material regarding anorexia nervosa and bone lossalong with participation opportunitiesare providedon their website.Please do not hesitate to contact them if you would like further information.

Individuals suffering from anorexia nervosa are at risk for Osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a severe thinning of bone that can result in crush fractures and life-long physical activity impairment. More than half of all women and girls with anorexia nervosa experience this devastating complication, which can result in bones that resemble those of women in their 70s and 80s. Bone loss is even more severe in women with anorexia nervosa than in post-menopausal women and is common at all stages of the illness, even among young patients with recent onset disease. The mechanisms of bone loss in this population include undernutrition, low calcium intake, overproduction of glucocorticoids (stress hormones), amenorrhea (loss of menses), and an inability of bones to respond to growth hormone. Current therapeutic options have proven to be ineffective in preventing bone loss. Please contact Erinne Meenaghan, N.P. for more information. (Read More)

MGH Weight Center

Ongoing Research Studies and Research Interests:
Anne Becker, M.D., Ph.D., Sc.M.
Sherrie Delinsky, Ph.D.
Jennifer J. Thomas, Ph.D.

2009 & In Press

Becker AE, Thomas JJ, Bainivualiku A, Richards L, Navara K, Roberts A, Gilman SE, Striegel-Moore R. Adaptation and Evaluation of the Clinical Impairment Assessment to Assess Disordered Eating Related Distress in an Adolescent Female Ethnic Fijian Population. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 2009. (In press).

Becker AE, Thomas JJ, Bainivualiku A, Richards L, Navara K, Roberts A, Gilman SE, Striegel-Moore R. Validity and Reliability of a Fijian Translation and Adaptation of the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 2009. (In press).

Thomas JJ, Roberto CA, & Brownell KD.Eighty-five percent of what?Discrepancies in the weight cut-off for anorexia nervosa substantially affect the prevalence of underweight.Psychological Medicine. (In press).

Becker AE. Commentary: Maria – Cultural change and posttraumatic stress in the life of a Belizean adolescent girl.In Worthman CM, Plotsky PM, Schechter DS, Cummings CA, eds. Formative experiences: The interaction of caregiving, culture, and developmental psychobiology. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2009. (In press).

Derenne J, Baker CW, Delinsky SS, Becker AE. Clinical Ratings Scales and Assessment in Eating Disorders. In: Blais M, Baer L, eds. Handbook of Clinical Rating Scales and Assessment in Psychiatry and Mental Health. Humana Press, 2009. (In press).

Becker AE, Baker CW. Eating Disorders. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisinger and Fordtran’s Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease, 9th Edition. Philadelphia: Elsevier Inc. 2009. (In press).

Greenberg JL, Delinsky SS, Reese HE, Buhlmann U, Wilhelm S. Body Image. In J. Grant & M. Potenza (Eds.) Young Adult Mental Health. New York: Oxford Press. (In press)

Thomas JJ,Vartanian, LR, & Brownell, KD. The relationship between eating disorder not otherwise specified and officially recognized eating disorders: Meta-analysis and implications for DSM.Psychological Bulletin. (In Press).

Thomas JJ, Schwartz MB, & Brownell KB. Vulnerability to eating disorders in adulthood. In R. Ingram & J. Price (Eds.), Vulnerability to Psychopathology: Risk across the lifespan (2nd ed.). New York: Guilford. (In press).

Keel PK, Eddy KT, Thomas JJ, & Schwartz MB.Vulnerability to eating disorders across the lifespan.In R. Ingram & J. Price (Eds.), Vulnerability to Psychopathology: Risk across the lifespan (2nd ed.).New York: Guilford. (In press).

2008

Becker AE, Ferguson L, Iron-Segev S, Kennedy M, Beard B, Kozek L, Scheick E, Gortmaker SL. Dysregulated Eating Patterns Among Graduate Students: Scale Development and Predictors" In: Fuchs JN, ed. Eating Disorders in Adult Women. New York: Nova Science Publishers, 2008.

Becker AE. Nurturing and negligence: Working on Others’ Bodies in Fiji. [Adapted republication]. In: Malacrida C, Low J, eds. Sociology of the Body: A Reader. Don Mills, Ontario: Oxford University Press. 2008; pp. 65-72.

Becker AE, Perloe A, Nyquist K, Kaplan LM. Complementary and Alternative Therapy for Weight Management. In Mischoulon D, Rosenbaum JF, eds. Natural Medications for Psychiatric Disorders: Considering the Alternatives. Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2008.

Delinsky SS, Derenne J, Becker AE. Eating Disorders. In Quah S, Heggenhougen K, eds. Encyclopedia of Public Health. Philadelphia: Elsevier Inc. 2008.

Becker AE, Mickley DW, Derenne J, Klibanski A. Eating Disorders: Evaluation and Management. In Stern TA, Rosenbaum JF, Fava M, Rauch S, Biederman J. Comprehensive Clinical Psychiatry. Mosby/Elsevier. 2008.

Delinsky SS, Wilson GT.Weight gain, dietary restraint, and disordered eating in thefreshman year of college. Eating Behaviors, 2008; 9: 82-90.

Goebel-Fabbri AE, Pearson K, Fikkan J, AndersonBJ, Franko DL, Weinger K. Insulinrestriction and associated morbidity and mortality in women withType I Diabetes. Diabetes Care, vol 31 (3) March2008:415-419.

Hrabosky JI, & Thomas JJ. Elucidating the relationship between obesity and depression: Recommendations for future research. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 2008; 15: 28-34.

Thomas JJ.EDNOS. In Keller KL (Ed.)Encyclopedia of Obesity. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 2008; pp. 223-224.

Thomas JJ.Toxic environment. In Keller KL (Ed.)Encyclopedia ofObesity. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. 2008; pp. 748-750.

2007

Becker AE. Culture and Eating Disorders Classification. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 2007; 40 Suppl:S111-6.

Miller E, Lasser KE, & Becker AE. Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening for Women with Mental Illness: Patient and Provider Perspectives on Improving Linkages Between Primary Care and Mental Health. Archives of Women’s Mental Health, 2007; 10(5):189-97.

Becker AE, Guarnaccia PG, Dumit J, Lewis-Fernandez R. End of an era. [Editorial.] Culture, Medicine and Psychiatry, 2007; 31:127-129.

Thomas JJ & Brownell KD. Obesity. In Ayers S, Baum S, Newman S, Wallston K, Weinman J, & West R (Eds.) Cambridge Handbook of Psychology, Health, and Medicine, 2nd Edition. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2007; pp. 797-800.

Schwartz MB, Thomas JJ, Bohan KM, & Vartanian LR. Intended and unintended effects of an eating disorder educational program: The impact of presenter identity. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 2007; 40: 187-192.

Becker AE, Fay, K, Gilman SE, Striegel-Moore, R. Facets of acculturation and their diverse relations to body concern in Fiji. International Journal of Eating Disorders. 2007; 40:42-50.

Franko DL, Becker AE, Thomas JJ, Herzog DB. Cross-ethnic differences in eating disorder symptoms and related distress. International Journal of Eating Disorders. 2007; 40:156-64.


2006

Becker AE. Eating Disorders. In: World Book Encyclopedia. Chicago, IL: World Book Publishing; 2006:48.

Becker AE, Fay K. Socio-cultural issues and eating disorders. In S. Wonderlich, M. de Zwaan, H. Steiger, J. Mitchell(Eds.), Annual review of eating disorders. Chicago, IL: Academy for Eating Disorders. 2006; pp. 35-63.

Becker AE, Look A. Eating Disorders. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ. Sleisinger and Fordtran’s Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 8th ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier Inc; 2006:383-407.

Delinsky SS, Becker AE. Binge Eating Disorder: A Wealth of Treatment Options.Curbside Consultant. Boston: Massachusetts General Hospital. 2005/2006; 4:1-3.

Delinsky SS, Latner JD, Wilson GT. Binge eating and weight loss in a self-help behavior modification program. Obesity. 2006; 14:1244-1249.

Delinsky SS, Wilson G.T. Mirror exposure for body image disturbance: a preliminary randomized trial.International Journal of Eating Disorders. 2006; 39:108-116.

Derenne JL. The therapist’s voice: Junior high, revisited. Brunner-Mazel Eating Disorders Monograph Series. 2006; 14(4):335-9.

Derenne JL, Beresin EV. Body image, media, and eating disorders. Academic Psychiatry. 2006; 30(3):257-61

Judge AM, Thomas JJ, Becker AE. Ethnic Disparities in Overweight and Obesity in the U.S.: A Review of Socio-Cultural Contributions. In: Ditmier LF, ed. New Developments in Obesity Research. New York: Nova Science Publishers; 2006.


2005

Hayaki J, Friedman MA, Whisman MA, Delinsky SS, Brownell KD. Sociotropy and bulimic symptoms in clinical and nonclinical samples. International Journal of Eating Disorders. 2003; 34:172-176.

Marci CD, Riess H. The clinical relevance of psychophysiology: Support for the psychobiology of empathy and psychodynamic process. American Journal of Psychotherapy. 2005; 59:213-226.

Wiseman CV, Sunday SR, Becker AE. Impact of the Media on Adolescent Body Image. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Clinics of North America. 2005; 14:453-71.

Becker AE, Thomas JJ, Franko DL, Herzog DB. Interpretation and use of weight information in the evaluation of eating disorders: Counselor response to weight information in a national eating disorders educational and screening program. International Journal of Eating Disorders. 2005;37:38-43.

Becker AE, Thomas JJ, Franko DL, Herzog DB. Disclosure Patterns of Eating and
Weight Concerns to Clinicians, Educational Professionals, Family, and Peers. International Journal of Eating Disorders. 2005; 38:18-23.


2004

Franko D, Keel PK, Dorer DJ, Blais MA, Delinsky SS, Eddy KT, Charat V, Renn R, Herzog DB. What predicts suicide attempts in women with eating disorders? Psychological Medicine. 2004; 34:1-11.

Becker AE, Franko DL, Nussbaum K, Herzog DB. Secondary prevention for eating disorders: The impact of education, screening, and referral in a college population. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 2004; 36:157-62.

Becker AE. Television, disordered eating, and young women in Fiji: Negotiating body image and identity during rapid social change. Culture, Medicine and Psychiatry. 2004; 28:533-59.

Becker AE, Israel E. Patients with an eating disorder. In: Jellinek MS, Rosenbaum JF, Stern TS, Fricchione G, Cassem NH, eds. Handbook of General Hospital Psychiatry. 5th ed. Mosby; 2004.

Becker AE. Eating disorders. In: Stern T, Herman J, eds. Psychiatry Update and Board Preparation. 2nd ed. New York: McGraw Hill; 2004:165-172.

Becker AE, Keel P, Anderson-Fye EP, Thomas JJ. Genes and/or Jeans? Genetic and socio-cultural contributions to risk for eating disorders. Journal of Addictive Diseases. 2004; 23:81-103.

Becker AE, Keel P, Anderson-Fye EP, Thomas JJ. Genes and/or Jeans? Genetic and socio-cultural contributions to risk for eating disorders. In: Gold MS, ed. Eating Disorders, Overeating, and Pathological Attachment to Food: Independent or Addictive Disorders? [Simultaneous publication with the above referenced paper.] Hayworth Press, Inc; 2004.

Becker AE. New global perspectives on eating disorders [editorial]. Culture, Medicine and Psychiatry. 2004; 28:433-37.


2003

Baker CW, Little TD, Brownell KD. Predicting adolescent eating and activity intentions and behaviors using the Theory of Planned Behavior. Health Psychology. 2003; 22:189-98.

Becker AE , Franko D, Speck A, Herzog DB. Ethnicity and differential access to care for eating disorder symptoms. International Journal of Eating Disorders. 2003; 33:205-12.

Rubin LR, Fitts ML, Becker AE. ‘Whatever feels good in my soul’: Body Ethics and Aesthetics Among African American and Latina Women. Culture, Medicine and Psychiatry. 2003; 27:49-75.

Becker AE, Burwell RA, Navara K, Gilman SE. Binge-eating and binge-eating disorder in a small-scale indigenous society: The view from Fiji. International Journal of Eating Disorders. 2003; 34:423-431.

Becker AE, Kaplan L. Approach to the obese patient. In: Stern T, Herman J, Slavin P, eds. The MGH Guide to Primary Care Psychiatry. 2nd ed. New York: McGraw Hill; 2003:451-67.

Anderson-Fye E, Becker AE. Eating disorders across cultures. In: Thompson JK, ed. Handbook of Eating Disorders and Obesity. Wiley; 2003:565-89.

Becker AE. Update on the outpatient management of eating disorders in adults. Current Women’s Health Reports. 2003; 3:221-29 .

Becker AE. Eating disorders and social transition. Primary Psychiatry. 2003; 10:75-79.


2002

Becker A, Burwell R, Herzog D, Hamburg P, Gilman S. Eating behaviors and attitudes following prolonged exposure to television among ethnic Fijian adolescent girls. British Journal of Psychiatry. 2002; 180(6): 509-514.

Eddy KT, Keel PK, Dorer DJ, Delinsky SS, Franko DL, Herzog DB. Longitudinal comparison of anorexia nervosa subtypes. International Journal of Eating Disorders. 2002; 31: 191-201.

Franko DL, Blais MA, Becker AE, Delinsky SS, Greenwood DN, Flores AT, Ekeblad ER, Eddy KT, Herzog DB. Dr. Franko and colleagues reply. American Journal of Psychiatry. 2002; 159:1250.

Keel PK, Dorer DJ, Eddy KT, Delinsky SS, Franko DL, Blais MA, Keller MB, Herzog DB. Predictors of treatment utilization among with anorexia and bulimia nervosa. American Journal of Psychiatry. 2002; 159:140-142.

Riess H. Integrative time-limited group therapy for bulimia nervosa. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy. 2002; 52(1):1-26.

Riess H. Integrative Group Treatment for Bulimia Nervosa, Columbia University Press; 2002.

Steiner-Adair C, Sjostrom L, Franko D, Pai S, Tucker R, Becker AE , Herzog DB. Primary prevention of eating disorders in adolescent girls: Learning from practice. International Journal of Eating Disorders. 2002; 32:401-11.

Pearson KH, Becker AE. Eating Disorders: Socio-cultural Dimensions in their Pathogenesis and Phenomenology . In: Pearson KH, Sonawalla S, Rosenbaum J, eds. Women’s Health in Psychiatry. Baltimore: Lippincott, Williams, & Wilkins; 2002.


2001

Eliot AE, Baker CW. Eating disordered adolescent males. Adolescence. 2001; 36: 535-43.

Franko DL, Blais MA, Becker AE, Delinsky SS, Greenwood DN, Flores AT, Ekeblad ER, Eddy KT, Herzog DB. Pregnancy complications and neonatal outcomes in women with eating disorders. American Journal of Psychiatry. 2001; 158:1461-1466.

Herzog DB, Delinsky SS. Classification of eating disorders. In Striegel-Moore R & Smolak L, eds. Eating Disorders: Innovative Directions for Research in Practice. American Psychological Association Press: Washington, DC; 2001: 31-50.


2000

Baker CW, Whisman MA, Brownell KD. Studying intergenerational transmission of eating and attitudes and behaviors: Methodological and conceptual questions. Health Psychology. 2000; 19:376-81.

Carter AS, Baker CW, Brownell KD. Body mass index, eating attitudes, and symptoms of depression and anxiety in pregnancy and the postpartum period. Psychosomatic Medicine. 2000; 62:264-70.

Eliot AE, Baker CW. Maternal stressors and eating-disordered adolescent girls. Family Therapy. 2000; 27:165-78.

Becker AE. Eating disorders. In: Stern T, Herman J, eds. Psychiatry Update and Board Preparation. New York: McGraw Hill; 2000.

Blais MA, Becker AE, Burwell RA, Flores AT, Nussbaum KM, Greenwood DN, Ekeblad ER, Herzog DB. Pregnancy: Outcome and impact on symptomatology in a cohort of eating disordered women. International Journal of Eating Disorders. 2000; 27:140-9.


1999

Baker CW, Carter AS, Cohen LR, Brownell KD. Eating attitudes and behaviors in pregnancy and postpartum: Global stability versus specific transitions. Annals of Behavioral Medicine. 1999; 21:143-8.

Herzog DB, Dorer DJ, Keel PK, Selwyn SE, Ekeblad ER, Flores AT, Greenwood DN, Burwell RA, Keller MB. Recovery and relapse in anorexia and bulimia nervosa.Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. 1999; 38:829-837.

Becker AE, Grinspoon SK, Klibanski A, Herzog DB. Eating disorders. New England Journal of Medicine. 1999; 340:1092-8.

Herzog DB, Becker AE. Eating disorders. In: Nicholi AM, ed. The New Harvard Guide to Psychiatry. Cambridge: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press; 1999: 400-411.


1998

Becker AE, Hamburg P, Herzog DB. The role of psychopharmacologic management in the treatment of eating disorders. In: Dunner DL, Rosenbaum JF, eds. Psychiatric Clinics of North America: Annual of Drug Therapy. Philadelphia: WB Saunders Company; 1998: 17-51.


1997

Fava M, Abraham ME, Clancy-Colecchi K, Pava JA, Matthews J, Rosenbaum JF. Eating disorder symptomatology in major depression. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease. 1997; 185:140-144.


1996

Becker AE, Hamburg P. Culture, the media, and eating disorders. Harvard Review of Psychiatry. 1996.

Prior to 1996

Becker AE. Body, Self, and Society: The View from Fiji. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press; 1995.
Riess H, Rutan JS. Group therapy for eating disorders: a step-wise approach. Group. 1992; 16:79-83.

Fava M, Herzog D, Hamburg P, Riess H, Anfang S, Rosenbaum J. Long-term use of fluoxetine in bulimia nervosa: A retrospective study. Annals of Clinical Psychiatry. 1990; 2:53-56.