NEDA TOOLKIT for Parents
Eating Disorder Inventory-2 (EDI-2) Second edition of
the EDI.
Ed Slang Eating disorder.
ED Acronym for eating disorder.
Electrolyte Imbalance A physical condition that
occurs when ionized salt concentrations (commonly
sodium and potassium) are at abnormal levels in the
body. This condition can occur as a side effect of
some bulimic compensatory behaviors, such as
vomiting. Emetic A class of drugs that induces vomiting.
Emetics may be used as part of a bulimic
compensatory behavior to induce vomiting after a
binge eating episode.
Enema The injection of fluid into the rectum for the
purpose of cleansing the bowel. Enemas may be
used as a bulimic compensatory behavior to purge
after a binge eating episode.
Equine/Animal-assisted Therapy A treatment
program in which people interact with horses and
become aware of their own emotional states
through the reactions of the horse to their behavior.
Exercise Therapy An individualized exercise plan
that is written by a doctor or rehabilitation specialist,
such as a clinical exercise physiologist, physical
therapist, or nurse. The plan takes into account an
individual’s current medical condition and provides
advice for what type of exercise to perform, how
hard to exercise, how long, and how many times per
week. Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) A type of
behavior therapy strategy that is based on the theory
that purging serves to decrease the anxiety
associated with eating. Purging is therefore
negatively reinforced via anxiety reduction. The goal
of ERP is to modify the association between anxiety
and purging by preventing purging following eating
until the anxiety associated with eating subsides.
(See Behavioral Therapy.)
Expressive Therapy A nondrug, nonpsychotherapy
form of treatment that uses the performing and/or
visual arts to help people express their thoughts and
emotions. Whether through dance, movement, art,
drama, drawing, painting, etc., expressive therapy
provides an opportunity for communication that
might otherwise remain repressed.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
(EMDR) A nondrug and nonpsychotherapy form of
treatment in which a therapist waves his/her fingers
back and forth in front of the patient’s eyes, and the
patient tracks the movements while also focusing on
a traumatic event. It is thought that the act of
tracking while concentrating allows a different level
of processing to occur in the brain so that the patient
can review the event more calmly or more
completely than before.
Family Therapy A form of psychotherapy that
involves members of a nuclear or extended family.
Some forms of family therapy are based on
behavioral or psychodynamic principles; the most
common form is based on family systems theory.
This approach regards the family as the unit of
treatment and emphasizes factors such as
relationships and communication patterns. With
eating disorders, the focus is on the eating disorder
and how the disorder affects family relationships.
Family therapy tends to be short-term, usually
lasting only a few months, although it can last longer
depending on the family circumstances.
Guided Imagery A technique in which the patient is
directed by a person (either in person or by using a
tape recording) to relax and imagine certain images
and scenes to promote relaxation, promote changes
in attitude or behavior, and encourage physical
healing. Guided imagery is sometimes called
visualization. Sometimes music is used as
background noise during the imagery session. (See
Alternative Therapy.)
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