An evaluation of the effectiveness and short-term stability of an innovative Australian day patient programme for eating disorders

A brief examination of treatment outcomes in higher levels of care for individuals with eating disorders across age groups

OBJECTIVE

Although eating disorders (EDs) occur throughout the lifespan, little research has been conducted with midlife/older adults, particularly those in higher levels of care (HLOC). The current study examined outcomes among 2009 patients with EDs receiving HLOC treatment at a large multisite facility between January 2020 and June 2022, across different age groups (ages <18, 18-25, 26-39 and ≥40). It was hypothesised that patients aged 40+ would exhibit less improvement on measures of ED psychopathology and depression than other age groups.

METHOD

Participants completed the eating disorder examination-questionnaire (EDE-Q) and the patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) at admission and discharge.

RESULTS

Changes for all outcomes from admission to discharge were statistically significant at p < 0.001 across all age groups. Changes in the EDE-Q Restraint subscale were significantly less in patients ages 26-39 than in patients ages 18-25 (p < 0.01). Changes in PHQ-9 were significantly greater in patients ages 40+ than patients ages 18-25 (p = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

Contrary to hypotheses, patients ages 40+ did not show worse outcomes than younger patients, and showed greater improvements in depression than young adults. The therapeutic needs of midlife/older adults with EDs may be favourably met by a HLOC regimen as described in this study.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of intensive treatment options for adults with eating disorders

Eating disorders (EDs) are complex conditions with one of the highest mortality rates among psychiatric illnesses. While outpatient evidence-based treatments for EDs in adults exist, there is often utilisation of more intensive interventions as part of treatment. However, a comprehensive analysis of the impacts of intensive treatment (inpatient, residential and day program) on physical and psychosocial outcomes is lacking. Thus, the current systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effectiveness of intensive treatments in adults with EDs for the outcomes of body mass index (BMI), disordered eating, depression, and quality of life, as well as a moderation analysis investigating a range of clinical characteristics. Overall, 62 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The results revealed that intensive treatment in adults yielded significant improvements in BMI (for underweight patients), disordered eating, depression, and quality of life. Treatment setting, length of stay and geographical region of the study all served as moderators for disordered eating and depression. Nevertheless, given the high heterogeneity in the meta- and moderation analyses, these results should be interpreted with caution. Future high-quality research is needed to determine the most beneficial elements of intensive treatment (compared to outpatient) in adults with EDs.

Post-hospitalization Daycare Treatment for Adolescents With Eating Disorders

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.

Combining day treatment and outpatient treatment for eating disorders: findings from a naturalistic setting

BACKGROUND

Day treatment programs for individuals with eating disorders (ED) have been the subject of research and are promoted as an alternative to inpatient treatment due to their therapeutic and economic advantages, but have not regularly been implemented in regular care.

PURPOSE

We investigated the long-term effectiveness of a transdiagnostic combined eating disorder treatment program which consisted of an 8-week day treatment phase followed by an average of 19 sessions of outpatient treatment over an average of 39 weeks in a naturalistic setting.

METHODS

We accepted 148 patients with different diagnoses of eating disorders into our combined treatment program. We assessed weight, behavioral eating disorder symptoms and eating disorder related cognitions and attitudes at the beginning and the end of the day treatment phase and after 6, 12 and 26 months.

RESULTS

Over the course of the 8-week day treatment phase, patients with initial binge eating, purging and/or fasting behavior reduced these symptoms by 91%, 90% and, 86%. Patients who were underweight at baseline gained on average 1.05 BMI points (d = 0.76). In addition, eating disorder related cognitions and attitudes of all patients significantly improved with large effect sizes (d = 1.12). On average, all improvements remained stable during the follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings add to the existing studies on day treatment and support previously found encouraging effects of treatment programs that combine day treatment and consecutive outpatient treatment for eating disorders.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, longitudinal cohort study.

A day treatment program for adults with eating disorders: staff and patient experiences in implementation

BACKGROUND

Eating disorders are serious conditions which are increasing in prevalence internationally. The causes of these conditions are complex and incompletely understood, and clinical presentations can vary over time. The complexity of these conditions can also complicate treatment. Therefore, stepped care treatment comprising a hierarchy of interventions, including access to day treatment programs (DTPs), is recommended. While studies have examined patient outcomes and provided narrative accounts of these programs, no published studies describe DTP development. This study aims to address this gap by examining development and implementation of a DTP from service providers and patients' perspectives.

METHODS

This study utilised a mixed-methods design to examine the design and implementation of a publicly funded, closed group DTP in Australia. Data from service records and documents were analysed, alongside interviews with patients and interview and focus groups with service providers conducted between June 2016 and July 2017. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Qualitative data were analysed using the Framework Approach.

RESULTS

Seventeen service providers (n = 4 in managerial and n = 13 clinical positions, with clinical experience of 3 months to 20 years) and 11 patients (100% F, 17-33 years) were interviewed. The service providers reported that implementation was a stressful undertaking due to tight timeframes to achieve multiple tasks. Patients had diverse opinions regarding the DTP content and the group treatment experience. Despite this, all patients reported benefits from attending the DTP, varying from improvements in mood, weight gain, development of personal skills and strengths, to living independently. For further benefit, patients suggested that programs could be shaped and targets towards differing patient groups, with fewer breaks throughout treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Designing and implementing a DTP is a challenge and can be a time-intensive undertaking, however the result can be beneficial for both service providers and patients. The closed group format was beneficial in creating a supportive environment, though may have led to increases in additional eating disordered behaviours. While the current structure of this DTP may require reconsideration, organisations considering implementing a new DTP may find usefulness in the overall design described in this study, alongside learning from the issues experienced.

Improving motivation to change amongst individuals with eating disorders: A systematic review

OBJECTIVE

People with eating disorders can have low motivation to change their eating disorder behaviors. Interventions aiming to enhance motivation to change have been increasingly advocated in their treatment. Questions remain regarding the strength of the evidence supporting the effectiveness of interventions that specifically focus on improving motivation. This review explored the evidence for improving motivation to change in eating disorders via clinical interventions.

METHOD

Searches of the published and unpublished literature were conducted by searching databases (PubMed, PsychInfo, Web of Science) and trial registries (WHO ICTRP), and by contacting authors. Studies were included if they investigated an intervention for eating disorder patients, included a pre-post outcome measure of motivation to change and were published in English. Risk of bias was also assessed.

RESULTS

Forty-two studies were included in the final review. Evidence was found to support the use of interventions to improve motivation to change, though it was unclear whether motivational interventions present a more effective option than approaches that do not exclusively or specifically focus on motivation. However, motivational interventions were identified as being more effective than low intensity treatments. Risk of bias in included studies was generally high.

DISCUSSION

Motivation was found to increase across treatments in general, whether or not the focus of the intervention was on enhancing motivation. It is unclear if interventions specifically targeting motivation to change provide additional benefit over and above established treatment approaches.

Psychotherapeutic Treatment for Anorexia Nervosa: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis

Background: The aim of the study was a systematic review of studies evaluating psychotherapeutic treatment approaches in anorexia nervosa and to compare their efficacy. Weight gain was chosen as the primary outcome criterion. We also aimed to compare treatment effects according to service level (inpatient vs. outpatient) and age group (adolescents vs. adults). Methods:The data bases PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Cinahl, and PsychInfo were used for a systematic literature search (until Feb 2017). Search terms were adapted for data base, combining versions of the search terms anorexia, treat^*/therap^* and controlled trial. Studies were selected using pre-defined in- and exclusion criteria. Data were extracted by two independent coders using piloted forms. Network-meta-analyses were conducted on all RCTs. For a comparison of service levels and age groups, standard mean change (SMC) statistics were used and naturalistic, non-randomized studies included. Results: Eighteen RCTs (trials on adults: 622 participants; trials on adolescents: 625 participants) were included in the network meta-analysis. SMC analyses were conducted with 38 studies (1,164 participants). While family-based approaches dominate interventions for adolescents, individual psychotherapy dominates in adults. There was no superiority of a specific approach. Weight gains were more rapid in adolescents and inpatient treatment. Conclusions: Several specialized psychotherapeutic interventions have been developed and can be recommended for AN. However, adult and adolescent patients should be distinguished, as groups differ in terms of treatment approaches considered suitable as well as treatment response. Future trials should replicate previous findings and be multi-center trials with large sample sizes to allow for subgroup analyses. Patient assessment should include variables that can be considered relevant moderators of treatment outcome. It is desirable to explore adaptive treatment strategies for subgroups of patients with AN. Identifying and addressing maintaining factors in AN remains a major challenge.

Development of a new statewide eating disorder service: The role of evidence in a real world setting

OBJECTIVE

There are three aims of this report. First, to describe how research evidence informed a service development rationale for a new statewide eating disorder service (SEDS) for people aged 15 years and older. Second, to examine the profile of people accessing SEDS in the first 2 years of its operation with respect to the three broad dimensions: illness stage, illness severity, and previous history of treatment. Finally, to examine which patient characteristics resulted in the recommendation of ongoing treatment contact with SEDS.

METHOD

Over a 2-year period (July 2014 to July 2016) 292 people were referred to the service, 171 (59%) who consented to have their data used in research.

RESULTS

Half of the referrals related to anorexia nervosa (AN; 51.2%), with the remainder split between bulimia nervosa (25.3%) and other specified feeding and eating disorders (23.5%); 65.9% had previously received treatment for an eating disorder. The initial information about the service was typically provided by the general practitioner/primary care physician. Compared with any other eating disorder diagnosis, people with AN were three times more likely to be recommended to retain treatment contact with SEDS.

DISCUSSION

Service development informed by research evidence, clinical expertise, and consideration of patients' characteristics, values, and circumstances, allows for a flexible but accountable development strategy.

A Narrative Review of Outcome Studies for Residential and Partial Hospital-based Treatment of Eating Disorders

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to review the current eating disorders outcome literature after residential or partial hospitalization programme (PHP) treatment.

METHOD

Articles were identified through a systematic search of PubMed and PsycINFO.

RESULTS

Twenty-two PHP and six residential treatment studies reported response at discharge and tended to find improvement. Fewer studies (nine PHP and three residential) reported outcome at some interval after discharge from treatment. These tended to find sustained improvement. A substantial proportion of patients were lost to follow-up, particularly for residential treatment. Only two follow-up studies used controlled trials; both showed efficacy for PHP compared with inpatient treatment with regard to maintaining symptom remission.

CONCLUSIONS

Improvement at discharge may not predict long-term outcome. Long-term follow-up studies were confounded by high dropout rates. While higher levels of care may be essential for reversing malnutrition, there remains a lack of controlled trials showing long-term efficacy, particularly for residential treatment settings. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.

Day program for young people with anorexia nervosa

OBJECTIVES

This study examined changes in body mass index (BMI), anorectic cognitions, and psychological distress following day program treatment.

METHODS

Participants were 42 female patients from the Monash Health Butterfly eating disorder day program, with anorexia nervosa (AN) restricting type (n = 35) or AN binge-eating/purging type (n = 7), ranging from 12 to 24 years.

RESULTS

Participants' BMI increased significantly over time. Higher motivation at intake predicted a greater increase in BMI over time, compared to those with lower motivation at intake. There were also significant reductions in drive for thinness, body dissatisfaction, anxiety, and depression scores, and improved motivation following two, four and six months of treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings provide further evidence that day programs can assist in weight restoration and improvements in psychological aspects of AN in adolescents and young adults.

Systematic review of evidence for different treatment settings in anorexia nervosa

AIM: To compare outcomes in anorexia nervosa (AN) in different treatment settings: inpatient, partial hospitalization and outpatient.

METHODS: Completed and published in the English language, randomized controlled trials comparing treatment in two or more settings or comparing different lengths of inpatient stay, were identified by database searches using terms “anorexia nervosa” and “treatment” dated to July 2014. Trials were assessed for risk of bias and quality according to the Cochrane handbook by two authors (Madden S and Hay P) Data were extracted on trial quality, participant features and setting, main outcomes and attrition.

RESULTS: Five studies were identified, two comparing inpatient treatment to outpatient treatment, one study comparing different lengths of inpatient treatment, one comparing inpatient treatment to day patient treatment and one comparing day patient treatment with outpatient treatment. There was no difference in treatment outcomes between the different treatment settings and different lengths of inpatient treatment. Both outpatient treatment and day patient treatment were significantly cheaper than inpatient treatment. Brief inpatient treatment followed by evidence based outpatient care was also cheaper than prolonged inpatient care for weight normalization also followed by evidence based outpatient care.

CONCLUSION: There is preliminary support for AN treatment in less restrictive settings but more research is needed to identify the optimum treatment setting for anorexia nervosa.

Do symptom-specific stages of change predict eating disorder treatment outcome?

PURPOSE

Interview methods to assess stages of change (SOC) in eating disorders (ED) indicate that SOC are positively correlated with symptom improvement over time. However, interviews require significant time and staff training and global measures of SOC do not capture varying levels of motivation across ED symptoms. This study used a self-report, ED symptom-specific SOC measure to determine prevalence of stages across symptoms and identify if SOC predict treatment outcome.

METHODS

Participants [N = 182; age 13-58 years; 92% Caucasian; 96% female; average BMI 21.7 (SD = 5.9); 50% ED not otherwise specified (EDNOS), 30.8% bulimia nervosa (BN), 19.2% anorexia nervosa (AN)] seeking ED treatment at a diverse-milieu multi-disciplinary facility in the United States completed stages of change, behavioral (ED symptom use and frequency) and psychological (ED concerns, anxiety, depression) measures at intake assessment and at 3, 6 and 12 months thereafter. Descriptive summaries were generated using ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis (continuous) and χ (2) (categorical) tests. Repeated measures linear regression models with autoregressive correlation structure predicted treatment outcome.

RESULTS

At intake assessment, 53.3% of AN, 34.0% of BN and 18.1% of EDNOS patients were in Preparation/Action. Readiness to change specific symptoms was highest for binge-eating (57.8%) and vomiting (56.5%). Frequency of fasting and restricting behaviors, and scores on all eating disorder and psychological measures improved over time regardless of SOC at intake assessment. Symptom-specific SOC did not predict reductions in ED symptom frequency. Overall SOC predicted neither improvement in Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) scores nor reduction in depression or trait anxiety; however, higher overall SOC predicted lower state anxiety across follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Readiness to change ED behaviors varies considerably. Most patients reduced eating disorder behaviors and increased psychological functioning regardless of stages of change, indicating the benefits of treatment and effectiveness of treatment-as-usual for overall psychiatric improvement.

Inpatient treatment for anorexia nervosa: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a serious psychiatric disease. Choice of acute inpatient care for AN is driven by the severity of symptoms and the level of risk to the patient. Inpatient hospitalization of patients with AN typically includes a behavioral weight gain protocol that is designed to address the core features of the disorder: weight, appetite, and distorted thoughts and behavior. Some add-on treatments may also be included in the inpatient treatment model and may have potential benefits, including faster or greater weight gain; such treatments include psychotherapy, psychoeducation, pharmacological treatment, and nutritional replacement.

OBJECTIVE

The goal of this study was to systematically review randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that have compared the efficacy of different forms of add-on treatment delivered during admission to a 24-hour hospital and to summarize the existing data regarding weight gain associated with such pharmacological, medical, and psychological interventions.

METHODS

Systematic electronic and manual searches were conducted to identify published RCTs concerning inpatient treatment of AN. Weight gain was used as the main outcome variable.

RESULTS

Overall, no significant increase in weight recovery was reported with atypical antipsychotics compared to placebo or therapy as usual. Only one study showed slight benefits in young patients during hospitalization (d=0.77; 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.09-1.64). No significant effects on weight recovery were found for antidepressants (d=-0.10; 95% CI=-0.63-0.42). In addition, none of the add-on psychotherapy techniques that were evaluated demonstrated superiority compared with control interventions in the inpatient setting. Cyclic enteral nutrition was studied in one RCT in which it demonstrated superiority compared to oral refeeding only (d=0.97; 95% CI=0.51-1.47). Other less common treatments such as bright light therapy and lithium carbonate were not found to produce additional significant weight improvement compared with placebo.

CONCLUSION

Most add-on treatments during the acute inpatient phase of AN treatment are not effective in increasing weight recovery. Long-term follow-up studies after the acute treatment phase are needed to make evidence-based recommendations.

The effectiveness of an individualized form of day hospital treatment

The traditional group format of day hospital treatment for eating disorders restricts individual tailoring of treatment, which is challenging when complex cases are referred. In 2007 we introduced a new program that included individual sessions. Patients referred to this program were older, had longer illness duration, and more pre-treatment symptoms than the original group program. These clients also had more psychopathology, and were more likely to have a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa binge/purge subtype. Weight gain and abstinence from symptoms were less likely for patients in this new program. However, premature discharge, rapid response, symptom frequencies, and relapse rates did not differ.

A family-based eating disorder day treatment program for youth: examining the clinical and statistical significance of short-term treatment outcomes

This article describes an innovative family-based day treatment program (DTP) for youth with moderate to severe eating disorders. A sample of 65 youth completed a battery of psychological measures pre- and post-treatment and 6 months after program completion. Treatment outcomes were assessed in three main domains: (a) medical stabilization, (b) normalization of eating behavior, and (c) improved psychological functioning. Overall, patients demonstrated statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements on all outcome measures. Findings indicate that a comprehensive DTP can successfully facilitate positive outcomes in youth with eating disorders and that these improvements can be maintained 6 months post-treatment.

The use of motivational interviewing in eating disorders: a systematic review

This review examines the effectiveness of interventions that include the principles and techniques of motivational interviewing (MI) and its adaptations in the treatment of eating disorders. The aims are (1) to examine both the context and effectiveness of MI and Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) when used with either patients or carers of people with eating disorders, (2) to identify limitations and/or difficulties in this process and (3) to identify further research needs in this area. Electronic databases were searched up until April 2012. Articles were screened according to predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Thirteen studies were finally selected for inclusion. A wide range of participants, interventions and outcomes were measured which made comparative analysis difficult. Promising results were found for interventions that included MI, particularly with regards to its use in increasing a readiness and motivation to change. Consequently, there is potential for using MI in the field of eating disorders, particularly with respect to 'readiness for change'. More homogeneity in study design and delivery of MI is needed along with some markers of treatment fidelity, including information as to how adherence to the intervention is assured.

Clinical outcomes of a novel, family-centered partial hospitalization program for young patients with eating disorders

AIM

Eating disorders (ED) in children and younger adolescents are becoming more evident, but there is a small evidence base for their management in this population. We hypothesized that a new family-centered partial hospital program for young patients would be effective in promoting weight gain, as well as improvement in psychiatric symptoms.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review of 56 patients treated in the program between August 2008 and November 2009 was performed. Historical data, anthropometric variables and scores from psychological instruments [Children's Eating Attitudes Test (ChEAT), Children's Depression Inventory (CDI), and Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale (RCMAS)] were collected on admission and at discharge. After exclusion, 30 patients were available for statistical analysis, using paired t-tests. The primary outcome variables were improvement in weight and change in total ChEAT score. Secondary outcomes included improvements in the CDI and RCMAS scores. Multivariate analysis included linear regression models that controlled for patient-specific fixed effects.

RESULTS

The cohort was 87% female with a mean age of 12.8±2 years; 60% were diagnosed with ED not otherwise specified. Two-thirds had a co-morbid depressive and/or anxiety disorder. Change in weight was significant (p<0.0001), as were improvements on total ChEAT (p<0.0001), CDI (p=0.0002), and RCMAS (p<0.0001) scores. No historical factors were correlated with improvement, nor was use of psychotropic medications. Length of stay in weeks significantly predicted greater weight gain (p=0.004, R2=0.26).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients treated in a family-centered partial hospital program had significant improvements in weight and psychological parameters. This approach holds significant promise for the management of young ED patients.

An evaluation of the impact of introducing compassion focused therapy to a standard treatment programme for people with eating disorders

OBJECTIVE

This study explored the outcome of introducing Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) into a standard treatment programme for people with eating disorders. In particular, the aim was to evaluate the principle that CFT can be used with people with eating disorders and improve eating disorder symptomatology.

METHOD

Routinely collected questionnaire data were used to assess cognitive and behavioural aspects of eating disorders and social functioning/well being (n = 99).

RESULTS

There were significant improvements on all questionnaire measures during the programme. An analysis by diagnosis found that people with bulimia nervosa improved significantly more than people with anorexia nervosa on most of the subscales. Also, in terms of clinical significance, 73% of those with bulimia nervosa were considered to have made clinically reliable and significant improvements at the end of treatment (compared with 21% of people with anorexia nervosa and 30% of people with atypical eating disorders).

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates the potential benefits of using CFT with people with eating disorders and highlights the need for further research on this new approach.

KEY PRACTITIONER MESSAGE

CFT offers new ways to conceptualize and formulate some of the self-critical and shame-based difficulties associated with eating disorders. CFT offers a framework that can enable people with eating disorders to conceptualize their difficulties in different ways. CFT can be combined with standard therapies especially cognitive behavioural therapy. CFT can be especially useful in a group context where the relationships between members can become increasingly compassionate, validating, supportive and encouraging.