A novel outpatient treatment model for patients with severe and enduring anorexia nervosa: an observational study of patient characteristics, treatment goals, and treatment course

Abstract Background Approximately 20–30% of people with anorexia nervosa develop an enduring form of the disorder. In the present study a newly developed outpatient treatment unit for patients with severe and enduring anorexia nervosa was described. The treatment model is flexible, patient-centered, and aims at enhancing quality of life, maintaining medical stability, and minimizing harm. Treatment contents, patient characteristics, treatment goals, and course of treatment from the first five years of operation were described and analyzed. Methods The participants (N = 22) consisted of all referrals resulting in an assessment or treatment period at the unit between May 2017 and May 2022. All participants were women. The study was a registry study. Information regarding patient characteristics, treatment goals, and the course of treatment was gathered from medical records. Results On average, the participants had had a diagnosed eating disorder for 12.80 years, and self-reported eating disorder symptoms for 19 years. Their symptomatology included severe eating disorder symptoms, psychiatric comorbidities, extreme underweight, and co-occurring medical conditions. Their treatment goals commonly concerned improving physical health, reducing eating disorder symptoms, improving psychological well-being, and improving quality of life. The majority of participants for whom this information was available benefited from the treatment (60%) and their treatment goals were met or partly met (66.6%), as measured by evaluations made by the patient or the treatment team. More than two thirds (69.2%) of the participants for whom this information was available remained weight stable or showed an increase in BMI. Conclusions This observational study suggests that many individuals with severe and enduring anorexia nervosa may benefit from flexible treatment, aiming at supporting quality of life. The results highlight the importance of coordinating and integrating the treatment of severe and enduring anorexia nervosa and co-occurring psychiatric disorders as well as medical complications. Further research and international dialogue about the how treatment for this vulnerable patient group should best be organized is called for. Trial registration Trial registration number: NCT05708404. Date of registration: 01/23/2023 (retrospectively registered).