The quality of treatment of eating disorders: a comparison of the therapists' and the patients' perspective.
OBJECTIVE
The aims of this study were to investigate the quality of treatment of eating disorders (EDs) from the therapists' and patients' perspective and to compare their views.


METHODS
The Questionnaire for Eating Problems and Treatment (QEPT) was administered to 73 therapists working with patients with ED, to 156 current ED and 148 former ED patients. The QEPT addresses the quality of treatment of EDs. ED diagnosis was assessed by the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire. Answers were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively.


RESULTS
Both therapists and patients most often mentioned focus of treatment, therapeutic alliance, and communicational skills as important aspects of the quality of treatment. However, they valued similar topics differently. Therapists valued the focus on ED symptoms and behavioral change more highly, whereas patients underscored the importance of the therapeutic relationship and addressing underlying problems. Most therapists work from a cognitive behavioral orientation, but protocol-based treatment was not found important.


CONCLUSIONS
There is an avid need for dissemination of evidence-based treatment. Therapists' and patients' views supplement current evidence-based knowledge on treatment quality of EDs. Optimal treatment of EDs will be facilitated when these three bodies of knowledge-the available evidence and the therapists' and patients' views-are integrated.
de la Rie
Simone
S
Centre for Eating Disorders Ursula, Leidschendam, The Netherlands. s.delarie@centrumeetstoornissen.nl
Noordenbos
Greta
G
Donker
Marianne
M
van Furth
Eric
E
D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003710:Demography; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000379:methods; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires