Foreword

I am delighted to introduce this edition of the journal that is dedicated to synthesising some of the rich clinical knowledge and scientific evidence about these disorders which have only recently found their home within psychiatry.The span of topics that are addressed in this volume, and the wide range of expertise that has been garnered, together speaks to the complexity of these conditions, and the need for a broad understanding.The volume considers issues and approaches that are outside the standard "box" and includes an international perspective with a wide range of authors proficient in many disciplines.Within my lifetime of working in the realm of eating disorders, the most rewarding aspect is the long-term partnerships that we have forged with patients and their supporters.This collaboration of those with lived experience with their diverse skills, has ensured that the direction and delivery of research and development, and the form and evidence base of treatment, is informed by expertise and evidence.It is internationally recognised that funding for services and research into this area has been woefully inadequate.However, the diversity of voices, and the breadth and depth of the knowledge base within this volume, illustrates both the need, and the challenge, of working in this area, and the hope that informed help is now at hand.