Dealing with anorexia nervosa among children and adolescents within a regional area

Introduction

Anorexia has the highest death rate of any psychiatric disorder (15-20%). Research evidence suggests that inpatient treatment is correlated with expensive cost and poor long term outcomes.

Objectives

To evaluate the implementation of 10 years of family-based treatment for anorexia nervosa.

Methods

Patients were treated by an interdisciplinary team including: Paediatrician, Child Psychiatrist, social workers, psychologists and nurses with relevant training in Maudsley model.

The average number of bed-days over the 10 year-period prior to the Maudsley approach was 102.8. The average number of patients admitted each year was 3.2 with average length of stay of 32 days per patient.

Results

The implementation of this approach has been dependent upon an excellent stakeholders' relationship. We achieved 77% reduction in the average number of bed-days; 37% reduction on the admissions, 62% less length of stay and long-term positive outcomes.

Conclusions

Family-based treatment appears to be the most efficacious treatment for Youth Anorexia Nervosa despite of the scarce resources within Mackay region.