Evaluation of a day treatment programme for eating disorders

Abstract

A day hospital treatment programme is described for eating disordered patients who would otherwise require inpatient treatment. The characteristics at presentation of 106 consecutive patients are described. Of patients completing the programme, 65 could be recruited for the outcome study. At presentation, 26 per cent fulfilled DSM-IV criteria for anorexia nervosa, 65 per cent for bulimia nervosa and 9 per cent had an eating disorder not otherwise specified. The average length of treatment of all patients was 13 weeks. There was significant weight gain among the anorectic patients and a significant decrease in the average number of binges among the bulimic patients. Statistically significant improvements over time for psychological, sexual and socioeconomic adjustment were also obtained. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.