Telemedicine for Eating Disorders: A Brief Report of a Italian Project

Giulia Savarese,Martino Politi,Claudio Di Giovanni,Monica Mollo,Oreste Fasano,Luna Carpinelli,Nadia Pecoraro,Maria Rosaria Padovano

doi:10.14738/assrj.74.8132

Giulia Savarese, Martino Politi + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.14738/assrj.74.8132

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Abstract

The objectives of the present work are the research and development of a Telemedicine system for therapy and enhanced monitoring of Eating disorders (ED). To this end, useful tools have been developed both for patients and caregivers and for operators: a) a mobile application for medical and psychological updates on the status of patients and through which it is possible to access psychological counselling services for family caregivers; and b) virtual and immersive reality viewers for the therapy of ED patients with social anxiety.

Highlights

According to the European Health Telematics Observatory, which oversees the medical applications in telematics, telemedicine is ‘the integration, monitoring and management of patients, as well as the education of patients and staff, using systems that allow prompt access to expert advice and patient information, regardless of where the patient or information resides‘ (De Moor et al, 1996)
Outside of Italy, the research group led by Schlegl et al (2015) conducted a systematic study of the existing scientific literature to evaluate the potential of telemedicine to prevent and treat eating disorders and to assist the caregivers of patients with Eating disorders (ED)
Encouraging results emerged from Internet-based ED prevention and assessment programs for caregivers and patients, which involved a certain percentage of the population that is usually not reached, improving access to primary care

Summary

Introduction

According to the European Health Telematics Observatory, which oversees the medical applications in telematics, telemedicine is ‘the integration, monitoring and management of patients, as well as the education of patients and staff, using systems that allow prompt access to expert advice and patient information, regardless of where the patient or information resides‘ (De Moor et al, 1996). In Italy and abroad there are several telemedicine systems available for Eating disorders (ED). Outside of Italy, the research group led by Schlegl et al (2015) conducted a systematic study of the existing scientific literature to evaluate the potential of telemedicine to prevent and treat eating disorders (in particular for anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa) and to assist the caregivers of patients with ED. The review was based on forty studies that provided evidence of the efficiency of e-therapy for patients with bulimia nervosa. Encouraging results emerged from Internet-based ED prevention and assessment programs for caregivers and patients, which involved a certain percentage of the population that is usually not reached, improving access to primary care. Aardoom et al (2016) have reported symptom reduction of ED in patients who have undergone self-help driven, Internet-based cognitive-behavioural therapy

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