The effectiveness of, and predictors of response to, inpatient treatment of anorexia nervosa.
OBJECTIVE
The inpatient treatment of anorexia nervosa lacks a clear evidence base. We sought to determine the effectiveness of, and predictors of response to, a specialist inpatient programme for adults with anorexia nervosa, and to survey satisfaction with the same.


METHODS
Demographic and clinical data were collected, at three time points, for 90 consecutive admission episodes over a three-year period.


RESULTS
Both a completers and an intention-to-treat analysis indicated the effectiveness of the programme. A longer length of hospital stay was associated with a greater degree of change in BMI, but no other predictors of treatment outcome were detected. Participants reported a high degree of satisfaction with the programme.


CONCLUSIONS
Adults suffering from anorexia nervosa improved significantly with a specialist programme delivered in an inpatient setting. Future research should investigate the potential role of factors other than obvious demographic and clinical history variables in determining treatment outcome.
Collin
Paula
P
Consultant Clinical Psychologist, NHS Tayside Psychological Therapies Service, Scotland, UK.
Power
Kevin
K
Karatzias
Thanos
T
Grierson
David
D
Yellowlees
Alex
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D057194:Intention to Treat Analysis; D007902:Length of Stay; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D016896:Treatment Outcome