A novel approach to treating eating disorders in a day‐hospital treatment program

Abstract

Abstract Aim: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the short‐term effectiveness of an adult day‐hospital program that uses a novel approach to delivering nutritional interventions. Methods: Fifty‐six adult eating disorder patients of the Sydney West Area Eating Disorders Day Treatment Program participated in the study. Participants completed standardised self‐reported questionnaires designed to measure eating disorder symptoms, at the commencement of treatment and after 12 weeks. Results: Participation in day‐hospital treatment was associated with increases in weight, reductions in number of binge‐eating and purging episodes, and frequency of exercise sessions. Participants also experienced improvements in their eating attitudes, drive for thinness, bulimia, depression and anxiety symptoms. Conclusion: These findings add to the growing body of literature supporting the use of day‐hospital programs in the treatment of eating disorders. A number of strategies are suggested for the effective delivery of nutritional interventions in day‐hospital programs, such as methods that assist with integrating new information, having an experiential focus and the use of collaborative education processes.