Clinical and socio‐demographic characteristics of university students referred to an eating disorders service

Abstract

This study describes the socio-demographic characteristics and eating disorders symptomatology of university students assessed by a specialised NHS eating disorders service in the UK over a 4-year period. Information was gathered on past treatment history, source of referral, details of university and course of study, whether the patient was still open to the service or discharged, and if the patient had dropped out of contact from services. The study also describes the diagnosis of the assessed patients as well as the results of the Eating Disorders Inventory (EDI), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) and Revised Symptom Check List 90 (SCL-90-R) questionnaires. The study shows that the university students attending an eating disorder service often suffer from severe conditions, which are generally well-established before they start their university studies. The study discusses the implication of those results in service delivery and future service development.

Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of eating disorder patients treated in the specialized residential settings in Belgium

“…Data show that one in four has no paid employment [5] When reviewing the literature, very few studies have been studying sociodemographic data of eating disorder subjects under specialized treatment. For instance, Arcelus and Button [8] studied clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of university students referred to an eating disorder unit, but only report few demographic characteristics such as that 93% of the patients were female, their mean age was 21 and that the majority (75%) was referred by their general practitioner. One limitation of this study was the fact that they included only university students in their sample.…”

Treating young people with eating disorders: transition from child mental health to specialist adult eating disorder services

“…This transition may also coincide with a move away from their family home to attend university studies far away from a supportive environment. Arcelus & Button (2007) reported that a quarter of the patients referred to an AEDS are university students.…”

Defining and predicting service utilisation in young adulthood following childhood treatment of an eating disorder

“…This may be because of difficulties arising from the distinct division of child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) and adult mental health services (AMHS 9,11 ) that exists in many countries (such as UK, USA and Australia) or because many young people move away from home and are seen in adult services different to those attended in childhood. 12 Given such difficulties, only three studies regarding the transition/pathways between CAMHS and AMHS in relation to eating disorders exist. Two of these are qualitative studies exploring clinician and patient views of transitioning from CAEDSs to AEDSs.…”