Two thousand GPs are sent a questionnaire to help spot eating disorders as early as possible

20 February 2009

A specialist centre for the treatment of eating disorders has sent Midland GPs a simple and effective tool to help identify people with anorexia and bulimia.

Marking National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, (February 23 to February 28), the initiative is designed to help GPs spot problems and ensure patients receive the vital treatment they need as soon as possible.

Newbridge House has sent 2,000 GPs across the West Midlands the SCOFF questionnaire card. It has five questions about feelings and behaviour towards food.

More than two positive answers indicate that a person is likely to have an eating disorder and further assessment is needed.

"It is extremely important that people with eating disorders receive appropriate treatment and support as soon as possible," explains Dr Clare Price, Consultant Psychiatrist at Newbridge House.

"Left untreated, attitudes become increasingly entrenched and people with eating disorders more resistant to change.

"However, eating disorders are very complex and people affected will often hide their behaviour from their families and GPs.

"We want to do all we can to support GPs and with the SCOFF questionnaire, we have the potential to reach people with eating disorders and help them before the condition has a really damaging impact on their lives."

In the UK, an estimated 1.1 million people have an eating disorder, including anorexia, bulimia, binge eating and other related conditions. Most of those affected are aged between 14 and 25, but more rarely, eating disorders can develop in older people.

Dr Price was part of the team at St George's Hospital in London that developed and assessed the SCOFF, questionnaire, named after the letters used in each of the questions. The team worked closely with people who have eating disorders to ensure the questions and the title of the questionnaire is appropriate.

It was created for GPs and nurses working in primary care and since it was first introduced ten years ago, the SCOFF questionnaire has been used all over the world. Research has shown it is very effective and identifies all patients with an eating disorder.

Newbridge House, with its specialist psychiatrists and nurses, is one of the few centres in the UK to provide treatment for young people with eating disorders.

"People with eating disorders can come to their GP with other physical problems caused by their eating disorder," explains Dr Price.

"A GP may think a patient could have an eating disorder but confirming that suspicion is difficult. GPs don't see patients with these types of problems on a regular basis and patients are likely to feel a great deal of shame and hide their behaviour.

"The SCOFF questionnaire provides a starting point for GPs - a framework for them to begin with and identify whether further assessment and treatment is needed."