The Australian experience of day programs for patients with eating disorders.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the authors' experience in establishing and implementing day programs for the treatment of eating disorders in Australia.


METHODS
This is a descriptive article based on the author's experience. Five-day programs are described in terms of their structure, theoretical orientation, and intended outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
The authors conclude that day programs need to be matched to the heterogeneous needs of the patients according to their stage of change. The further the patient is towards an action stage of change the less supervision of their eating- and skills-based therapy is required. Accordingly, treatment can be more focused on understanding the factors that maintain the eating disorder on a more extensive day program. Patients with longstanding eating disorders that have not responded to traditional treatments may benefit from a readiness and motivational therapy approach in a day program.
Thornton
Christopher
C
Wesley Private Hospital, Sydney, Australia. chris.thornton@wesleymission.org.au
Beumont
Peter
P
Touyz
Stephen
S
D001315:Australia; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003631:Day Care, Medical / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D009042:Motivation; D015397:Program Evaluation; D016896:Treatment Outcome