Letter: Eating disorders

Sir: I welcomed your report on our "SCOFF" questionnaire and the comments of its critics, which accurately reflect its limitations (" 'Early warning' test devised for eating disorders", 3 December).

However, I would like to emphasise that at least 12 per cent of women without any eating disorder will also score positively on the test and your readers should not be alarmed if they find themselves within that category.

In essence the questionnaire is an aide-memoire for doctors to raise the index of suspicion that a case may exist, prior to more detailed psychiatric assessment, and shouldn't be used to make a diagnosis.

Dr JOHN F MORGAN

St George's Hospital Medical School

London SW18