Referrals to a comprehensive eating disorders service.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to review referral patterns and management decisions of patients consecutively referred to a comprehensive eating disorders service over a 12 month period.


METHODS
Data was collected from 211 patients referred to the eating disorders service in 1993 as part of an ongoing quality assurance programme undertaken by the service.


RESULTS
Seventy seven percent of referrals were received directly from general practitioners and 84% patients presented with a clinically significant eating disorder subsequently managed on an outpatient basis. Additional psychiatric diagnoses were present in 58% of all cases. Inpatient admission was a rare but prolonged event.


CONCLUSIONS
Although referral rates have escalated over recent years, most patients have at least one clinically significant psychiatric disorder requiring active intervention. Additional psychopathology over and above an eating disorder is common, and on occasions this takes treatment precedence. There are numerous treatment, teaching, and efficiency advantages in providing speciality eating disorder services, although it would seem difficult to justify multiple inpatient sites within any regional health authority.
Surgenor
L J
LJ
Department of Psychological Medicine, Christchurch School of Medicine.
Fear
J L
JL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*