Suitable for:

• Psychology students.
• Psychologists.
• Psychotherapists.
• Physicians.
• Nutritionists and dietitians.
• Nurses.
• Mental health professionals interested in eating disorders.

No prior specialized training is required. Basic knowledge of psychology, mental health, or healthcare practice is recommended.

This training program provides a comprehensive exploration of eating disorders through psychoanalytic, clinical, and neurobiological perspectives. Participants will examine the historical evolution of eating disorders, contemporary diagnostic classifications, and the psychological and biological mechanisms that contribute to their development and maintenance.

The training focuses on the three major eating disorders—Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Binge Eating Disorder—while also addressing Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorders (OSFED). Participants will explore psychoanalytic conceptualizations of eating disorders through Freud’s drive theory, object relations theory, and Hilde Bruch’s contributions regarding identity formation, autonomy, and interoceptive awareness. In addition, the program examines the neurobiology of hunger and satiety, personality traits associated with eating disorders, body image disturbances, and the medical consequences of these conditions.

By integrating theory, clinical understanding, and case discussion, the training offers participants a multidimensional perspective on eating disorders and their treatment.

Teaching Methods

• Interactive lectures and presentations.
• Clinical examples and case discussions.
• Psychoanalytic and neurobiological perspectives.
• Reflective discussions and group interaction.
• Case formulation exercises.
• Applied clinical analysis.

Training Duration & Schedule

Total Duration: 10 Hours

• Introduction and Historical Overview of Eating Disorders
• Classification of Eating Disorders According to DSM-5

• Anorexia Nervosa
• Bulimia Nervosa
• Binge Eating Disorder
• Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorders (OSFED)

• Eating Disorders from a Psychoanalytic Perspective

• Freud’s Drive Theory and the Oral Stage
• Object Relations Theory
• Hilde Bruch’s Theory of Identity, Autonomy, and Interoceptive Awareness

• Neurobiology of Eating Disorders
• Hunger and Satiety Regulation Mechanisms
• Dietary Restriction and Weight-Loss Attempts as Risk Factors
• Personality Traits Associated with Eating Disorders

• Hypersensitivity
• Anxiety
• Perfectionism

• Body Image Disturbance and the Development of Eating Disorders
• Medical Complications of Eating Disorders
• Eating Disorders Across Different Populations

• Athletes
• Men and Boys
• Different Stages of Life

• Clinical Case Study and Interactive Discussion

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

• Understand the historical development and diagnostic evolution of eating disorders.
• Differentiate between Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, and OSFED.
• Recognize the clinical symptoms and psychological characteristics associated with each disorder.
• Understand psychoanalytic theories relevant to eating disorders.
• Explain the role of identity, autonomy, and object relations in the development of eating disorders.
• Identify the neurobiological mechanisms involved in hunger, satiety, and eating behavior.
• Recognize risk factors and personality traits commonly associated with eating disorders.
• Understand the medical and psychological consequences of eating disorders across different populations.
• Apply psychoanalytic and clinical concepts to the understanding of eating disorder cases.