Stephanie Setliff, MD, CEDS-S & Kelsey Estry, MS, RD, LDN

Presentation Title:

“Working with Neurodivergent Patients with Eating Disorders”

Presentation Overview:

Research is beginning to show there is a significant overlap between neurodivergence and those struggling with eating disorders. Behavioral health providers should educate themselves on what contributes to the diagnostic overlap between neurodivergent individuals and eating disorders. This presentation will review the literature describing traits associated with neurodiversity (especially ASD and ADHD) and with eating disorder (ED) diagnoses (e.g., AN, ARFID), discussing the presentation of comorbid traits and diagnoses and the implications for treating eating disorder symptoms in individuals who have neurodivergent traits. Presenters will use clinical examples and provide practical adaptations and treatment modifications in eating disorders treatment can optimize outcomes.

Learning Objectives:

1. Attendees will be able to list at least three considerations impacting treatment interventions of some neurodivergent patients with eating disorders
2. Attendees will be able to name two possible barriers to treatment unique to neurodivergent patients
3. Attendees will be able to list three nutrition interventions to support some neurodivergent patients in their eating disorder process

Speaker Biographies:

Dr. Stephanie Setliff is the Regional Medical Director of the Texas Region at ERC Pathlight and a dedicated child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist based in Dallas, Texas, specializing in the treatment of eating disorders. She founded the eating disorders program at Children’s Health in North Texas and was subsequently invited to establish a comprehensive program for the Eating Recovery Center and Pathlight Mood & Anxiety Center. Through her dedication and collaboration with renowned researchers and fellow clinicians, Dr. Setliff has set the standard for eating disorder treatment in the United States. Her innovative treatment regimens have been extensively studied and are being adopted by other medical providers and treatment centers nationwide.

 

 

Kelsey Estry is a graduate of Michigan State University. She completed her Dietetic Internship at Loyola University of Chicago and her Master of Science in Human Nutrition at Eastern Michigan University. Kelsey has been a Clinical Dietitian with ERC since 2011 and is currently a Regional Director of Nutrition for the Midwest and East Region. Her previous experience at ERC includes working in all levels of care at various treatment centers, including inpatient, residential, partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs. Kelsey aims to provide an approach that is collaborative, compassionate, empowering and patient centered for a comprehensive treatment model.