Psychiatry for Eating Disorders and Body Image Difficulties
Expert psychiatric assessment, diagnosis and treatment for young people (aged 15+) and adults.
At The London Centre for Eating Disorders and Body Image, we provide specialist psychiatric assessment, diagnosis and treatment for young people aged 15 years and above, and adults experiencing eating disorders, body image difficulties and related mental health conditions.
Psychiatric input can be helpful when you are looking for diagnostic clarity, advice about medication, assessment of co-occurring mental health difficulties, evaluation of medical or psychological risk, or specialist support alongside psychological therapy, dietetic treatment or occupational therapy.
As part of our psychology-led multidisciplinary service, psychiatry complements the wider treatment you receive, helping to ensure your care is safe, coordinated and tailored to your individual needs
Psychiatry EXPLAINED
What Is Psychiatry for Eating Disorders?
A Consultant Psychiatrist is a medically trained doctor specialising in mental health. Within eating disorder care, psychiatry brings together the psychological, physical and medical aspects of a person’s difficulties to develop a safe, evidence-based and coordinated treatment plan.
Eating disorders rarely occur in isolation. They commonly exist alongside anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), trauma, ADHD, autism and other neurodevelopmental differences. Many people also do not fit neatly into a single diagnosis, with symptoms changing over time or overlapping across different conditions.
A specialist psychiatrist considers not only what symptoms are present, but why they may have developed, how they interact with one another, and what combination of treatment is most likely to support recovery.
1.25M
people living with an eating disorder
Psychiatry does not replace psychological therapy or dietetic support. Instead, it provides an additional layer of clinical expertise, helping to ensure treatment is safe, proportionate and well coordinated. Medication is not always recommended and, where it is considered, this will always be discussed carefully and collaboratively.
46%
of Adults feel unhappy about their appearance
Why Choose The London Centre?
Meet Our Lead Eating Disorder Psychiatrist
Dr Christina Barras, MBBS, MRCPsych
Consultant Psychiatrist
Dr Christina Barras is a highly experienced Consultant Psychiatrist specialising in eating disorders, with extensive experience across adolescent and adult services. She is currently the Clinical Lead for the Eating Disorders Service at Surrey and Borders NHS Foundation Trust, where she leads a multidisciplinary team and manages complex eating disorder presentations across the lifespan.
Her clinical expertise includes specialist assessment, differential diagnosis, treatment planning, medication review and the management of eating disorders and body image disorders, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, ARFID and body dysmorphic disorder (BDD).
At The London Centre, Dr Barras sees young people aged 15 years and above, as well as adults. She has a particular interest in integrated multidisciplinary care and in supporting young people as they transition into adult services.
When might Psychiatry Be Helpful?
Psychiatric assessment can be valuable at many different stages of recovery. Some people seek a one-off consultation to gain diagnostic clarity or review an existing diagnosis, while others benefit from ongoing psychiatric support alongside therapy.
You might benefit from seeing a psychiatrist if you are experiencing:
For young people, eating disorders can also affect education, family life and emotional development. Whatever your age, our aim is to understand the whole picture and identify the support most likely to help.
What to expect at Your First Appointment
Together, we may explore your eating patterns, body image concerns, mood, anxiety, obsessive thoughts, sleep, physical health, previous treatment, medication, personal history and any neurodevelopmental factors such as ADHD or autism where relevant.
Following your consultation, your psychiatrist will discuss clear recommendations with you. These may include psychological therapy, medication, psychiatric follow-up, dietetic support, GP liaison, physical health monitoring or referral to other services where appropriate. Where helpful, a written summary or report can also be provided outlining the assessment, formulation and recommendations.
Medication and Ongoing Care
Some people require only a single consultation, while others benefit from ongoing psychiatric review alongside therapy or wider multidisciplinary treatment.
Where medication is recommended, this will be discussed openly, including the potential benefits, possible side effects, alternatives and any monitoring required. Medication is usually most effective when combined with psychological therapy rather than used as a standalone treatment.
Ongoing psychiatric care may include medication monitoring, review of mood or anxiety, reassessment of diagnosis where appropriate, monitoring of medical or psychological risk, and liaison with other professionals involved in your care.
ADHD Assessments
ADHD and eating disorders frequently occur together, and neurodevelopmental differences can sometimes influence eating patterns, emotional regulation, impulsivity, routines and engagement with treatment. Identifying whether ADHD or other neurodevelopmental factors are contributing to your presentation can be an important part of developing the most effective treatment plan.
As part of your consultation, we will consider whether ADHD or other neurodevelopmental differences may be relevant. Where appropriate, we can recommend or provide a dedicated ADHD assessment. The London Centre offers comprehensive ADHD assessments for both children (aged 5 years and above) and adults, with medication, titration and ongoing psychiatric follow-up available where clinically indicated.
Get more information on our ADHD assessment and treatment pathway.
Working Safely as an Outpatient Service
The London Centre is a specialist outpatient service and is able to support individuals whose level of medical and psychological risk can be managed safely outside hospital.
Eating disorders can affect both mental and physical health, including heart rate, blood pressure, hormones, bone health and other body systems. Where medical monitoring is required, we work closely with your GP or other medical professionals and may recommend investigations such as blood tests, ECGs, weight monitoring or physical observations.
We will always discuss information sharing with you wherever possible. However, where there are concerns about physical health, safeguarding or significant risk, or where medication is prescribed, we may need to liaise with your GP or other professionals involved in your care.
If we believe outpatient eating disorder treatment is no longer the safest option, we will discuss this openly and support referral to the most appropriate NHS or specialist service.
Start your journey
Take the First Step
Towards Recovery
Whether you are seeking diagnostic clarity, advice about medication, or specialist psychiatric support alongside therapy, our team is here to help.
