Traditional versus virtual partial hospital programme for eating disorders: Feasibility and preliminary comparison of effects.

Abstract

Minimal research has examined teletherapy for group or intensive eating disorder (ED) treatment, particularly partial hospital programme (PHP). This study compared treatment outcomes for individuals treated before and after a pandemic-driven implementation of virtual PHP. Patients received care at ED treatment centres using the Renfrew Unified Treatment for Eating Disorders and Comorbidity. Patients treated with virtual PHP were compared to patients treated with traditional PHP. Measures of ED symptomology and behaviours, depressive symptoms, anxiety severity, anxiety sensitivity, experiential avoidance, mindfulness, and body mass index (BMI; reported for anorexia nervosa [AN] patients only) were collected at intake and discharge. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine the effect of treatment group on outcomes, controlling for intake score, comorbidity, discharge status, AN diagnosis, and step-down status. Differences in treatment type were only found for binge eating frequency, with those in virtual PHP reporting significantly lower binge eating episodes at discharge than those in traditional PHP. Body mass index showed significantly less improvement in virtual PHP than in traditional PHP. Preliminary results suggest virtual PHP is feasible and effective, potentially increasing access to evidence-based, intensive ED treatment. However, additional research is needed to establish efficacious support for weight gain among individuals with AN in virtual programs.