title: Eating Disorder Symptoms and Length of Stay in Residential Treatment for Substance Use: A Brief Report.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Treatment dropout is common both among people in treatment for eating disorders and for substance use disorders. Because of the high rates of co-occurrence and mortality associated with these disorders, the purpose of the current study was to examine the relationship among eating disorder symptoms, length of stay, and decisions to leave against medical advice among individuals in substance use treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed de-identified medical record data for 122 adult women enrolled in residential treatment for substance use disorders over a 12-month period. Routine treatment intake included standardized assessments of eating disorders, depression, and substance use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants averaged 43.1 years of age (SD = 10.7) and were primarily non-Hispanic Caucasian (n = 118, 96.7%). Approximately 8 (6.6%) patients met criteria for a probable eating disorder and 79 (64.8%) for a probable alcohol use disorder. Mean length of stay was 28.1 days (SD = 6.6) and 21 (17%) patients left against medical advice. Logistic regression analysis showed that eating disorder symptoms were significantly associated with decisions to leave treatment against medical advice after controlling for age, years of education, depression symptoms, alcohol problems, and drug problems: χ(2) = 14.88, df = 6, p =.02. This model accounted for 19.1% (Nagelkerke R(2)) of the variance in discharge type. Eating disorder symptoms were not associated with length of treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest the importance of assessing and monitoring eating disorder symptoms among individuals in treatment for substance use disorders.
authors.affiliation: a University of Tennessee-Knoxville , Knoxville , Tennessee , USA.
authors.forename: JoAnna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Elmquist
authors.affiliation: b Department of Psychology , Ohio University , Athens , Ohio , USA.
authors.forename: Ryan C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Shorey
authors.affiliation: c Cornerstone of Recovery , Louisville , Tennessee , USA.
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.affiliation: a University of Tennessee-Knoxville , Knoxville , Tennessee , USA.
authors.forename: Gregory L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Stuart
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008875:Middle Aged; D010352:Patient Dropouts; D012114:Residential Treatment; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D063189:Symptom Assessment
keywords: eating disorders; substance dependence; treatment dropout; treatment length