Eating disorders are both psychological health and physical health issues and require more than just weight gain and nutritional counseling to overcome. Complex family, social and individual psychological issues or biochemical predispositions often impact eating disorders. These complex factors may cause an individual to turn to starving, binge eating, purging or compulsively exercising as a means of coping.
The most important thing to know about eating disorders treatment is that early intervention makes a difference in success! The sooner an individual suffering from an eating disorder receives treatment, the more likely they are to recover.
Treatment involves an overall assessment including history, current symptoms, physical status, family or personal issues, and the presence of other disorders such as anxiety disorders, depression and/or substance abuse. The most effective treatments of eating disorders include psychotherapy or psychological counseling along with medical and nutrition support and guidance. A team of professionals such as nutritionists, physicians, nurse practitioners, psychologists, psychiatrists and nurses works together to develop a treatment plan that is individually tailored to meet the specific problems, needs and strengths of the individual. Individuals suffering from eating disorders are subject to a variety of physical and medical concerns. Careful medical monitoring is essential to all forms of therapy, including outpatient therapy.
Psychological counseling needs to address both the eating disorder behaviors and the underlying psychological, interpersonal and cultural forces that contributed to the eating disorder. It is important for those struggling with an eating disorder to find a mental health professional they trust to assist in developing and coordinating their treatment plan.
Treatment Options
Depending on the severity of the eating disorder, the patient may undergo group therapy, individual therapy or outpatient hospital care; or partial hospitalization, residential treatment care or inpatient hospital care. Eating disorder therapy strategies may include, but are not limited to, cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, family therapy and behavioral therapy. Psychiatric medications have an established role in the treatment of eating disorders and may be part of an individualized treatment plan.
Levels of Care (LOC)
Outpatient Therapy (OP or OT) sessions have proved to be effective for many individuals with eating disorders. This form of therapy may involve weekly meetings between the client and health professionals and participation in support groups. Nutritional counseling is done, preferably by a registered dietitian specializing in eating disorders.
Family-Based Treatment (FBT), or Maudsley, is an intensive home-based approach for the treatment of eating disorders in children and adolescents, where the parent or guardian monitors meals rather than a treatment facility. It is usually done in conjunction with outpatient therapy. FBT can be used as an alternative to inpatient or residential care, or following inpatient or residential care. More information on Mausdley/FBT can be found at this link: www.MaudsleyParents.org
Intensive Outpatient Programs or Intensive Outpatient Therapy (IOP) are simply more intense forms of outpatient therapy and typically provide both a supported meal and group therapy each day you attend. Clients attend therapy sessions several days per week for several hours at a time.
Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP) and Intensive Day Programs (IDP) are usually daylong programs for clients who may need more structure and contact than outpatient treatment can provide. These programs provide structured eating situations and active treatment interventions while allowing the individual to spend evenings at home and, in many cases, continue to work or attend school. They run from three to seven days per week, and from five to 14 hours per day.
Inpatient Programs (IP), Inpatient Hospitalization or Intensive Residential (IR) programs provide a structured treatment environment in which the client has access to clinical support 24 hours per day, including 24/7 medical observation. Lengths of stay vary greatly, with some as little as three days and some up to multiple months. Many programs are affiliated with day and outpatient programs that allow clients to step up or down to the appropriate level of care depending on their clinical needs. Traditionally the IP level of care has been located in hospitals, but over the past decade, more and more non-hospital-based eating disorder treatment centers have offered inpatient programs as well.
Residential Treatment Facilities (RES) or Extended Care programs provide long-term non-hospital-based treatment for individuals with progressed eating disorders. Similar to IP, residential treatment provides 24/7 care, but in a more comfortable setting and with more opportunities to practice real-life challenges such as meals out, group outings to nearby stores or entertainment, and individual passes to leave the facility for short periods of time. Because of this, in order to participate in residential treatment, you generally must be medically stable. The treatment needs of individuals will vary, as do the treatment styles of residential programs. Lengths of stay are often determined by insurance but range from two weeks to six-plus months.
**This information originally came from Eating Disorder Resource Center and has been expanded over the years here at Eating Disorder Treatment Reviews.