Background: This program will address the psychological, physiological, and emotional effects of having an eating disorder during pregnancy, and/or after giving birth
Many women are rarely screened for eating disorders during their pregnancies, resulting in a number of women who have undiagnosed eating disorders and associated complications during and after pregnancy. It is vital that clinicians and other health care providers are educated on the common characteristics that present in pregnant women who are experiencing an eating disorder and are at risk for developing/relapsing with an eating disorder. This presentation will also educate people on useful tools to gain a deeper knowledge of what the pregnant woman is experiencing, relating to specific eating disorder symptoms. Medical complications, as well as emotional and psychological effects will be explored for participants to gain more insight into the biopsychosocial lens of eating disorders in pregnancy and after giving birth. Clinically, participants will be educated on psychopharmaceutical and psychotherapeutic treatment options. A case study connecting the components of the presentation will be shared as well.
With many women often going undiagnosed with eating disorders during pregnancy, it is vital that clinicians and other health care providers are educated on the common characteristics and complications of eating disorders that present in pregnant women, effective tools to screen and available treatment approaches when working with these women. The presentation ideas include: Identifying common symptoms of eating disorders during pregnancy and effective assessment tools and criteria for assessing eating disorders symptoms during pregnancy; identifying common biopsychosocial complications related to eating disorders during pregnancy and the postpartum period; identifying and describing effective treatment modalities and options for women with eating disorders during pregnancy and postpartum.
Fatima Z. Ali, M.D. is Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at University of Illinois, Chicago and Clinical Director of the Eating Disorders Program at Linden Oaks Hospital, Naperville, Illinois. She is Board Certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. She has been an investigator in several clinical trials and has lectured extensively on issues related to Eating Disorders and Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders. She is on the Board of ANAD. She has been interviewed by the media on issues related to women and eating disorders.
Erin Terada, Psy.D, is the Clinical Therapist in the Eating Disorder Inpatient Program at Linden Oaks Hospital, Naperville. She provides assessment and therapy services for patients in crisis presenting with primary complaint of eating disorder. She is a Student Instructor at Roosevelt University, Chicago, She has done presentations on the concept of therapeutic family meal as well as on body image issues in teens. She received the Benjamin Franklin Recipient Award from Roosevelt University. She is a member of IAEDP, American Psychological Association and the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science since 2011.
