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Adults with chronic eating disorders. Two‐year follow‐up after inpatient treatment
Author(s) -
Rø Øyvind,
Martinsen Egil W.,
Hoffart Asle,
Sexton Harold,
Rosenvinge Jan H.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
european eating disorders review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.511
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1099-0968
pISSN - 1072-4133
DOI - 10.1002/erv.651
Subject(s) - eating disorders , distress , medicine , psychiatry , personality disorders , pediatrics , personality , psychology , clinical psychology , social psychology
Objective The aims of this prospective study were (1) to report on the 2‐year outcome of chronically ill adult eating disorder patients, (2) to investigate whether a specialized inpatient treatment might influence the course of the illness, and (3) to search for prognostic factors. Method Seventy‐two patients were treated in a 4–5‐month specialized group treatment programme for chronically ill adults with eating disorders. Sixty‐five (90%) with mean age of 30 years were available for the follow‐up assessment. Results Forty‐six (71%) patients had improved at the 2‐year follow‐up and 17 (26%) did not meet diagnostic criteria for an eating disorder. The symptom reductions per time were statistically significantly larger during the inpatient period compared to the waiting‐list and follow‐up periods. No significant predictors of treatment outcome were found. Patients with avoidant personality disorder had a higher level of distress at all times, but improved at the same rate as the others. Conclusion At the 2‐year follow‐up, there were substantial reductions in eating disorder symptoms and general psychiatric symptoms. Most of the improvement occurred during inpatient treatment, which might be an option for chronic eating disorders. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.