Alternatives to inpatient treatment in adolescents with anorexia nervosa: Effectiveness and characteristics of a new intensive model of day patient treatment

Authors

  • Eduardo Serrano-Troncoso Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology Department, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu of Barcelona, Spain; Children and Adolescent Mental Health Research Group, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
  • Marina Fàbrega-Ribera Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology Department, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu of Barcelona, Spain
  • Núria Coll-Pla Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology Department, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu of Barcelona, Spain
  • Mónica Godrid-García Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology Department, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu of Barcelona, Spain
  • Marta Carulla-Roig Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology Department, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu of Barcelona, Spain
  • Raquel Cecilia-Costa Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology Department, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu of Barcelona, Spain
  • Pau Soto-Usera Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology Department, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu of Barcelona, Spain
  • Bernardo Sánchez-Fernández Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology Department, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu of Barcelona, Spain
  • Josep Matalí-Costa Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology Department, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu of Barcelona, Spain; Children and Adolescent Mental Health Research Group, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
  • Montserrat Dolz-Abadia Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology Department, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu of Barcelona, Spain; Children and Adolescent Mental Health Research Group, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain

Keywords:

Anorexia nervosa, Day patient treatmen, Adolescents, Effectiveness, Treatment Outcome

Abstract

Introduction. Inpatient Treatment (IT) is the treatment of choice for moderate or severely ill adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa (AN). Nevertheless, it is expensive, and the risk for relapse or readmissions is high. A less costly alternative to IT is Day Patient Treatment (DP), which may also help to avoid relapses and readmissions because facilitates transition from hospital to community treatment.

Aim. To assess the effectiveness of the 11-hour DP program for Eating Disorders (DP-ED-11h), a new intensive DP treatment for adolescents with AN, with respect to weight recovery, avoidance of hospital admission and decrease of Length of Stay (LoS).

Method. A longitudinal, naturalistic study was carried out analysing clinical and sociodemographic variables from 77 patients with AN who were consecutively discharged from DP-ED-11h, during years 2015-2016.

Results. There were 77 discharges. The average age was 14.4 years old (SD: 1.62). The LoS at DP-ED-11h was 28.9 days (SD: 18.5). The mean body mass index increased significantly at discharge (17.2 vs. 17.9, p<0.001) and at 12 months follow-up (17.9 vs. 19.3, p<0.001). Twenty nine (70.8%) of the patients treated at DP-ED-11h, who came from a less intensive setting, avoided an admission. Fourteen (18.2%) required readmission at DP-ED-11h within two years. The LoS at IT was significantly reduced (from 33 to 24 days, p<0.043).

Conclusion. DP-ED-11h has shown to be an effective resource as an alternative to IT for adolescents with moderate to severe AN. This new model has cost-effectiveness implications as it is a safe resource and is less costly than IT.

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Published

2020-01-01

How to Cite

Serrano-Troncoso, Eduardo, et al. “Alternatives to Inpatient Treatment in Adolescents With Anorexia Nervosa: Effectiveness and Characteristics of a New Intensive Model of Day Patient Treatment”. Actas Españolas De Psiquiatría, vol. 48, no. 1, Jan. 2020, pp. 19-27, https://actaspsiquiatria.es/index.php/actas/article/view/211.

Issue

Vol. 48 No. 1 (2020)

Section

Original