Issues related to combining risk factor reduction and clinical treatment for eating disorders in defined populations

Population-based psychotherapy considers the provision of services to a population at risk for or already affected with a disease or disorder. Using existing data on prevalence, incidence, risk factors, and interventions (both preventive and clinical) for eating disorders (anorexia excluded), this article examines issues related to integrating and providing risk reduction and treatment to a population of female college students. Population-based psychotherapy models have important implications for the provision of services and for future directions in research on eating and other types of mental health disorders, but the assumptions need to be carefully examined. Studies that provide data combining population-based risk factor reduction and clinical treatment are needed to advance this field.