What treatments patients seek after inpatient care: a follow-up of 24 patients with anorexia nervosa

Abstract

Background: To determine the kind of treatment patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) seek for their eating disorder following hospitalization.

Method: Twenty-four women previously treated in the Toronto General Hospital were interviewed to determine the nature and amount of treatment received following discharge.

Results: Mean age: 31 years (SD=9.18). Mean body mass index (BMI) at assessment: 19.97 (SD=4.00). All had seen at least one or more professionals, mainly family doctors and psychiatrists, within the first 6 months. Mean hours of treatment: 85. Eighty-eight per cent had taken psychotropic medication (most commonly antidepressants). Symptomatic and asymptomatic patients did not differ in amount of treatment received.

Conclusions: Regardless of their symptom state, AN patients continue to use the health system heavily following weight restoration. Their aftercare is thus essential for ongoing maintenance treatment and to prevent relapse, and training primary-care physicians to provide it may be one way to contain health care costs.