Steps of care for adolescents with anorexia nervosa-A Delphi study

Anorexia nervosa (AN) commonly develops during adolescence. Existing literature offers some treatment guidelines, but clear clinical criteria for initial recommendations and steps of care are needed. The aim of the present study was to develop expert consensus for a stepped-care algorithm for treatment of adolescents with AN.

The Delphi approach was used to identify clinical parameters that guide initial treatment recommendations and recommendations for transitions between levels of care. The Delphi approach provides a useful expert consensus when empirical data are limited. Individuals with at least 10 years of experience in the field of adolescent AN and membership in one of three professional organizations were recruited. Twenty-five panelists participated in three rounds of iterative online questionnaires.

Consensus was achieved on several features of a treatment algorithm. Hospitalization is recommended when medical instability, suicidality, or acute food refusal are present at any point in treatment. Family-based treatment (FBT) is recommended as the first-line treatment, with a few exceptions. Consensus was not reached on when to transition from a higher level of care to a lower level of care.

Expert opinion was used to develop a consensus-based algorithm for care of adolescents with AN. Future research is needed to test whether these recommendations can be used to optimize outcomes for adolescents with AN.