Integrating Evidence-Based Treatments with Individual Needs in an Outpatient Facility for Eating Disorders

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a day treatment program for 77 women diagnosed with eating disorders. The program utilizes an integrative approach, combining evidence-based treatments such as cognitive-behavioral therapy with clinical experience and additional multimodal interventions based on individual needs. Three modes of treatment used in the program (group therapy, family therapy, and individual therapy) and two levels of treatment (partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient) are described in detail. The effectiveness of the treatment program was evaluated by comparing pre-treatment and post-treatment data on outcome measures for eating disorder attitudes, personality characteristics, and symptoms, as well as depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms. Results indicated that after an average of 12.8 weeks of treatment, patients reported a significant reduction in eating disorder symptoms, depressive symptoms, and anxiety symptoms, and a significant increase in weight at post-treatment. Implications of these findings and directions for future research are discussed.