Laxative withdrawal in eating disorders: treatment protocol and 3 to 20-month follow-up.
OBJECTIVE
This article describes a treatment protocol for laxative withdrawal and presents some preliminary information about response to treatment at 3 to 20-month follow-up.


METHODS
Patients were contacted 3 to 20 months after admission and evaluated with a shortened form of the Eating Disorders Examination (EDE).


RESULTS
Fifty-seven percent of patients were abstinent from laxatives at follow-up and there were significant reductions in laxative-related symptom variables. Abstinence from laxatives was not accompanied by any other changes in eating behavior and was not associated with any pretreatment variables that were assessed.


CONCLUSIONS
It appears to be feasible to withdraw patients from laxatives as an isolated intervention with a reasonably high rate of success.
Colton
P
P
Department of Psychiatry, Toronto Hospital, Canada.
Woodside
D B
DB
Kaplan
A S
AS
D000328:Adult; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D002400:Cathartics / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012651:Self Medication; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D002400:Cathartics