[Hospitalization of patients with eating disorders: an eight years review]

Abstract

Eating disorders (Eds) are pathologies with a multifactorial etiopathogenesis. Their treatment requires an interdisciplinary team. The aim of this paper is to discuss in patient treatment (n=80) of patients with eating disorders during eight years. This treatment was in charge of the Eating Disorders Team of the Hospital Italiano of Buenos Aires. The approach to critical stages of eating disorders envolves the clinical or psychiatric admission of the patients as the principal means to ward off patients from death or the appearance of cronifications. 77,5% of the patients were admitted to the psychiatric ward, 5% to a clinical ward and 17,5% to a clinical followed by a psychiatric ward. The average B.M.I. in admission was 16,83. The average time in psychiatry was 35 days. During inpatient treatment 21,25% required a nasogastric tube and 82% received psychopharmacological treatment. The mortality rate was 1,25%. During the ambulatory treatment that followed hospitalizations, 32,5% were readmitted to the psychiatric ward and there were 10% of dropouts. Hospitalization of these patients looks after the achievement of healthier eating habits and the establishment of a therapeutic alliance which allows the follow up of an ambulatory treatment.