[Eating disorders--how should treatment be organized?].
BACKGROUND
Well controlled normal population studies show no sharp increase in the incidence and prevalence of eating disorders. However, more individuals seem to seek treatment, and there is a need for more precise estimates of the expected patient load at various levels of care.


METHODS
The total number of potential patients was estimated on the basis of data on the number of women aged 15-44 years, the number of hospitals and outpatient clinics per county in Norway, working hours per year for general practitioners, and the prevalence of eating disorders.


RESULTS
In total, about 50,000 Norwegian women may suffer from eating disorders; about 600 may need highly specialized services. At the most, each outpatient clinic may expect about 80 annual referrals for bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder, and each hospital may expect 10-20 patients with bulimia nervosa. On average, each outpatient clinic and hospital may expect 8-9 referrals of patients with anorexia nervosa.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a need for increased treatment capacity, better clinical skills and better organization of treatment services for patients with eating disorders.
Rosenvinge
Jan H
JH
Institutt for psykologi Universitetet i Tromsø 9037 Tromsø. janr@psyk.uit.no
Götestam
K Gunnar
KG
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D002032:Bulimia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D002983:Clinical Competence; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D010346:Patient Care Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015995:Prevalence