Abstract
Background: There are several possible facilities for the treatment of eating disorders (EDs). Specifically, there is the issue of the use of specialized daycare and ambulatory services over inpatient settings and the place of daycare programs following inpatient treatment.Aim: We sought to examine the contribution of post-hospitalization daycare program to the treatment of adolescents hospitalized with an ED.Methods: We assessed 61 female adolescents hospitalized with an ED. All but three were diagnosed with clinical or subthreshold anorexia nervosa (AN). Three were diagnosed with bulimia nervosa. Thirty-seven patients continued with a post-hospitalization daycare program for at least 5 months, whereas 24 did not enter or were enrolled in the program for <5 months. Patients completed on admission to, and discharge from, inpatient treatment self-rating questionnaires assessing ED-related symptoms, body-related attitudes and behaviors, and depression and anxiety. Social functioning was assessed 1 year from discharge using open-ended questions. One-year ED outcome was evaluated according to the patients' body mass index (BMI) and according to composite remission criteria, assessed with a standardized semistructured interview. To be remitted from an ED, patients were required to maintain a stable weight, to have regular menstrual cycles, and not to engage in binging, purging, and restricting behaviors for at least eight consecutive weeks before their assessment.Results: BMI was within normal range at follow-up, whether completing or not completing daycare treatment, and around 75% of the patients had menstrual cycles. By contrast, when using comprehensive composite remission criteria, less than a quarter of former inpatients not entering/not completing daycare program achieved remission vs. almost a half of the completers. In addition, a greater percentage of completers continued with psychotherapy following discharge. Fifty percent of both groups showed good post-discharge social functioning. No between-group differences were found in the BMI and the scores of the self-rating questionnaires at admission to, and discharge from, inpatient treatment.Conclusion: Adolescent females with EDs can maintain a normal-range BMI from discharge to 1-year follow-up, even if not completing daycare treatment. By contrast, completion of a post-hospitalization daycare program may improve the 1-year follow-up ED-related outcome of former ED inpatients.
Highlights
Eating disorders (EDs), in particular, anorexia nervosa (AN), are psychiatric illnesses with a serious impact, often causing severe distress to patients and families
No differences were found for type of ED, comorbid psychiatric diagnoses, and psychopharmacotherapy
Around two thirds of the patients had evidence of a comorbid psychiatric disorder at admission, and around a half were treated at that time with psychotropic medications [mostly serotonin-specific reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)]
Summary
Eating disorders (EDs), in particular, anorexia nervosa (AN), are psychiatric illnesses with a serious impact, often causing severe distress to patients and families. There are currently several possible facilities for the treatment of EDs. there is the possibility of using newer forms of specialized daycare and ambulatory services over the more traditional inpatient settings [3]. Inpatient treatment is currently suggested for patients with EDs, AN, who are in imminent risk because of their poor physical condition or because of severe suicidal behavior, whose mental state impedes almost completely with their everyday functioning, and whose family, in these specific conditions, is not able to provide the required support [1, 4]. There are several possible facilities for the treatment of eating disorders (EDs). There is the issue of the use of specialized daycare and ambulatory services over inpatient settings and the place of daycare programs following inpatient treatment
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
