Binge eating disorder, extreme

This code represents a severe form of binge eating disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of consuming an objectively large amount of food in a short period, accompanied by a sense of loss of control. The extreme specifier indicates a very high frequency of binge eating episodes, typically 14 or more per week. Unlike bulimia nervosa, these episodes are not followed by compensatory behaviors.

Use this code when documentation clearly specifies a diagnosis of binge eating disorder with an "extreme" severity level. This typically applies when a patient reports or is assessed to have 14 or more binge eating episodes per week, along with the characteristic distress and impairment associated with the disorder. Documentation should explicitly state the frequency of binge eating episodes to support the "extreme" specifier.

• Ensure the documentation explicitly states the severity as "extreme" or provides sufficient detail (e.g., 14+ episodes per week) to support this specifier.
• Differentiate from other eating disorders like bulimia nervosa (F50.2) by the absence of recurrent inappropriate compensatory behaviors.
• Do not use this code if the severity is not specified or falls into the mild, moderate, or severe categories; instead, use the appropriate unspecified or less severe code.