Treatment utilization and medical problems in a community sample of adult women with anorexia nervosa

Brooks B. Brodrick, Jessica A. Harper, Erin Van Enkevort, Carrie McAdams

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Anorexia nervosa has a prolonged course of illness, making both defining recovery and determining optimal outpatient treatments difficult. Here, we report the types of treatments utilized in a naturalistic sample of adult women with anorexia nervosa in Texas. Participants were recruited from earlier studies of women with anorexia nervosa (AN-C, n = 28) and in weight recovery following anorexia nervosa (AN-WR, n = 18). Participants provided information about both their illness and treatments during their most severe period (severe period) as well as during the two to six years following original assessments (follow-up period). New follow-up groups were defined based on current clinical status (continued eating disorder, AN-CC; newly in recovery, AN-CR; sustained weight-recovery, AN-WS), and clinical utilization was compared across groups. There were no differences in groups related to symptoms or treatments utilized during the severe-period. During the follow-up period, intensive outpatient programs were utilized significantly more by the AN-CC group than the other groups, and dietitians were seen significantly less by the AN-WS group. Medical complications related to the ED were significantly more common in the AN-CC group. All groups maintained similar levels of contact with outpatient psychiatrists, therapists, and primary care physicians.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number981
JournalFrontiers in Psychology
Volume10
Issue numberAPR
DOIs
StatePublished - 2019

Keywords

  • Anorexia Nervosa
  • Bulimia Nervosa
  • Cohort
  • Eating Disorders
  • Longitudinal
  • Recovery
  • Treatment

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Psychology

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