A track-based approach for treating eating disorders

Abstract

The authors discuss the development of a track-based approach to working with disordered eating patients in an inpatient psychiatric facility. Because of the high mortality rate and complex presentation of patients with eating disorders, treatment is essential. However, treatment in a specialized eating disorder program is not always feasible. The authors present their rationale for creating an Eating Disorder Track imbedded in an inpatient facility that offers several-week lengths of stay conducive to intensive psychotherapeutic and milieu treatment.

Effectivenes of a track-based model for treating eating disorders in a general psychiatric hospital

“…The goal of the Eating Disorder Track (EDT) is to provide programming within an interdisciplinary team, through a biopsychosocial lens, that would address the patient as a whole and focus not only on his or her primary psychiatric conditions, but on the eating disorder as well (Wagner & MacCaughelty, 2013). The EDT focuses not only on reduction of ED behavior and symptoms, but also incorporates psychoeducation regarding the refractory nature of EDs (Kaplan & Garfinkel, 1999), and patients have the opportunity to explore and discuss the possible functions and/or roles of their EDs (Zerbe, 1995(Zerbe, , 2008.…”