There's so much information available these days about different approaches to treatment for eating disorders that it can be easy to get confused and feel overwhelmed about having to make a choice. While it is fair to say that every eating disorder unit is different, there are also commonalities in the approaches to treatment. Below is a list of five components and their benefits to patient.
- meal plan
- food shopping
- accountability
- diary sessions
- group therapy sessions
Meal Plan: Eating Right for Anorexia Recovery
The meal plan is often referred to by sufferers and health professionals alike as the "best weapon" to fight the eating disorder. This is because if a patient can manage to stick to the plan each day then they are far less likely to relapse.
The meal plan basically consists of a healthy, balanced, high calorie intake - usually in the region of around 3,000 calories to gain weight and about 2,250-2,500 for weight maintenance.
A positive about daypatient treatment is you don't have to sit at home alone faced with what is often a distressing and difficult task. The sense of camaraderie provides much needed support and there is often a feeling of going through the hard times together as group. Also, eating meals during weekdays at the EDU helps prepare the patient for weekends at home.
Food Shopping: Facing the Supermarket in Anorexia Recovery
As a daypatient there is often the opportunity to go out with fellow patients and a nutritionist to practice "recovery food shopping." This is often a valuable (although very challenging) experience as it helps the patient to gain much needed confidence and education about the types of foods necessary to maintain a healthy body weight.
Ingredients for snacks or main meals may be purchased and brought back to the EDU to provide practice cooking sessions to later be used within the home setting at the weekend.
Accountability: Balanced Treatment Approach in Anorexia Recovery
A key component of the daypatient approach to treatment is having the accountability to the treatment team in place. Weight can be monitored initially in the EDU and if deemed appropriate, at home in the later stages of treatment. The patient has responsibility over their energy intake and exercise levels in the evenings and weekends so a clear benefit is the balance of accountability during the week and personal responsibility at weekends.
Being a daypatient means that, especially if very young, the patient isn't forced to spend long periods of time away from their parents and home. For the older patient it provides the opportunity to engage in treatment whilst still being able to live with family and fulfill parental duties.
Diary Sessions: Writing for Anorexia Recovery
Keeping a daily diary is an important tool to manage and review recovery from an eating disorder. At weekends, when the patient is at home this provides the opportunity to record recovery skills learned during the week and how well they have been transferred to this setting.
Monday morning diary sessions typically offer valuable insight for both therapists, individuals and the group into the challenges and triumphs experienced over the weekend.
Group Therapy: Learning Together in Eating Disorder Recovery
The benefits of group therapy for treating eating disorders are well documented and are a useful means of learning what behaviours and tools can be used to progress in recovery. Often hearing of another's pitfalls or mistakes provides vital knowledge on how to avoid or best manage future difficulties.
Attending a treatment centre for daily group therapy (often 8am-6pm) also gives a structure and purpose to each day. This in itself can be very helpful and is especially beneficial for those also suffering with depression or anxiety.
Daypatient Treatment Conclusion
To conclude, it is clear that daypatient treatment is for many an effective means to working towards a healthy recovery. The key benefit is that it enables patients to not lose touch with their "normal life" such as family, friends, partners and colleagues. Skills and tools learned during the week can be tested over the weekend and support or feedback can be received on return to the unit.
Sources:
Freeman, C. Overcoming Anorexia Nervosa London: Robinson 2002
Waller et al. CBT for Eating Disorders Cambridge University Press 2007
Kate Le Page - Kate Henning-Le Page writes about eating disorders, body image and recovery issues. She specializes in anorexia recovery.
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