title: Systematic review of evidence for different treatment settings in anorexia nervosa.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare outcomes in anorexia nervosa (AN) in different treatment settings: inpatient, partial hospitalization and outpatient.
  
  
  METHODS
  Completed and published in the English language, randomized controlled trials comparing treatment in two or more settings or comparing different lengths of inpatient stay, were identified by database searches using terms "anorexia nervosa" and "treatment" dated to July 2014. Trials were assessed for risk of bias and quality according to the Cochrane handbook by two authors (Madden S and Hay P) Data were extracted on trial quality, participant features and setting, main outcomes and attrition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five studies were identified, two comparing inpatient treatment to outpatient treatment, one study comparing different lengths of inpatient treatment, one comparing inpatient treatment to day patient treatment and one comparing day patient treatment with outpatient treatment. There was no difference in treatment outcomes between the different treatment settings and different lengths of inpatient treatment. Both outpatient treatment and day patient treatment were significantly cheaper than inpatient treatment. Brief inpatient treatment followed by evidence based outpatient care was also cheaper than prolonged inpatient care for weight normalization also followed by evidence based outpatient care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is preliminary support for AN treatment in less restrictive settings but more research is needed to identify the optimum treatment setting for anorexia nervosa.
authors: Sloane Madden, Department of Psychological Medicine, Sydney Children's Hospital Network, Westmead NSW 2145, Australia.
authors: Sloane
authors: S
authors: Madden
authors: Sloane Madden, Department of Psychological Medicine, Sydney Children's Hospital Network, Westmead NSW 2145, Australia.
authors: Phillipa
authors: P
authors: Hay
authors: Sloane Madden, Department of Psychological Medicine, Sydney Children's Hospital Network, Westmead NSW 2145, Australia.
authors: Stephen
authors: S
authors: Touyz
keywords: Anorexia nervosa; Day patient; Inpatient; Outpatient; Treatment