Disordered eating: understanding the nature of eating behavior documentation in women veterans' mental health care.

Characterize the presence and nature of disordered eating behavior documentation in women veterans' mental health (MH) services. Retrospective chart review. A subset of MH progress notes was reviewed from participants in a research study on self-reported disordered eating behaviors. Notes were reviewed and coded to establish the frequency and context in which disordered eating was addressed within MH services. Two-hundred twenty-two unique notes were reviewed across 28 patients. 19.8% of notes across 16 patients included documentation of disordered eating behaviors. Documentation most frequently referenced routine, non-specific questions related to medication/medical conditions, and patient-initiated prompts. Documentation of disordered eating behaviors appeared infrequent across MH appointments. When charted, notes typically referenced medication side effects or other medical conditions (e.g. flu) as opposed to linkage with disordered eating or MH symptoms. Disordered eating behaviors may be an important area of clinical query, in particular among patients with known comorbidities.