Women Veterans' Treatment Preferences for Disordered Eating.
Disordered eating, which includes subclinical and clinical maladaptive eating behaviors, is common among women, including those served by the Veterans Health Administration (VA). We used qualitative methods to determine whether and how women veterans want to receive treatment for disordered eating.



Women veterans participated in one of seven focus groups/interviews and completed in-person demographic and psychological questionnaires. We used thematic analysis of focus groups/interviews to understand preferences for disordered eating treatment.



Participants (n = 20) were mostly women of color (55%); mean age was 48 (SD = 15) and 65% had significant psychological symptoms. Few participants described being assessed for disordered eating, but all thought VA should provide treatment for disordered eating. Through thematic analysis, we identified six preferences: 1) treatment for disordered eating should be provided in groups, 2) treatment for disordered eating should provide concrete skills to facilitate the transition out of structured military environments, 3) treatment for disordered eating should address the relationship between eating and mental health, 4) disordered eating can be treated with mindfulness and cognitive-behavioral therapy, 5) disordered eating treatment providers should be experienced and take an interactive approach to care, but can come from diverse disciplines, and 6) referrals to treatment for disordered eating should be open ended, occur early, and allow for ongoing, flexible access to treatment.



Women veterans are interested in treatment for disordered eating. Preferred treatments align with existing treatments, could be offered in conjunction with weight loss or primary care services, and should provide social support and interactive learning.
Center for Innovation to Implementation, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, California; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California. Electronic address: breland@stanford.edu.
Jessica Y
JY
Breland
San Francisco VA Medical Center, San Francisco, California.
Rosemary
R
Donalson
San Francisco VA Medical Center, San Francisco, California.
Julie
J
Dinh
Center for Innovation to Implementation, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, California.
Andrea
A
Nevedal
San Francisco VA Medical Center, San Francisco, California; University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
Shira
S
Maguen
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology; D064866:Mindfulness; D057240:Patient Preference / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*; D058014:Veterans Health