[Integrated day-hospital treatment in subjects with overeating disorders].
BACKGROUND
The efficacy of a multidisciplinary, intensive and integrated day-hospital treatment was evaluated in a group of overeaters (bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, obesity without binging).


METHODS
The study sample included 72 subjects consecutively admitted to DH who were evaluated at the first contact with the service, on admission, after 5 weeks of treatment, and at discharge. The primary outcome was the total score at the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI), and the secondary outcome was change in body mass index (BMI). The effects of the duration of treatment on results were also assessed. The improvement of EDI and BMI was compared between the two groups of bingers and non-bingers.


RESULTS
Four patients dropped during the treatment period. In the whole sample, both EDI and BMI improved significantly after 5 weeks (p=0.00) and continued to improve until the end of treatment (p=0.00). The duration of treatment did not have a significant impact on BMI improvement (p=0.07), but significantly affected EDI improvement (p=0.006), although only during the treatment period. No significant differences were observed between obese/overweight bingers and non-bingers in BMI improvement (p=0.41), whereas EDI improvement was higher in bingers (p=0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
The relatively good compliance and the efficacy data suggest that in overeating subjects resistant to previous outpatient treatments a more intensive DH treatment may be useful. Our findings show that such a multidisciplinary therapeutic-rehabilitative treatment significantly improves both total EDI score (especially in bingers) and BMI.
Massimiliano
M
Aragona
Daniela
D
Pucci
Andrea
A
Balbi
D000328:Adult; D056912:Binge-Eating Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003631:Day Care, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010045:Outpatients; D010348:Patient Care Team; D016896:Treatment Outcome