Day treatment programme for patients with eating disorders: randomized controlled trial

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Eating disorders (EDs) are increasingly prevalent globally, particularly among adolescents.
• Traditional ED treatments include outpatient and inpatient care.
• Day hospital programs offer a potential for cost-effective treatment and relapse prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of day treatment programs versus traditional outpatient treatment for patients with eating disorders.
• To evaluate the impact of day treatment on psychological symptoms, eating behaviors, and self-perception.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 43 participants from an outpatient ED clinic.
• Participants were assigned to either a modified day treatment program (n=21) or traditional outpatient care (n=22).
• Data were collected using validated instruments including the Eating Disorder Examination and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale.

Main Results:

• The day treatment group demonstrated significantly greater improvements in psychological symptoms, binging/purging frequency, BMI, depression, and self-esteem.
• Improvements in perfectionism were observed in the day treatment group, though not statistically significant between groups.
• Day treatment showed superior outcomes across multiple domains compared to traditional outpatient care.

Conclusions:

• Day treatment programs facilitate the establishment of a strong therapeutic alliance.
• Nurse therapists in day programs are effective in providing crucial cognitive and behavioral interventions for recovery.
• Day treatment models show promise for enhanced patient outcomes in eating disorder management.