Table 4 Pre-referral, intake, and during service engagement characteristics of those prescribed none, one to two, or three or more psychotropic medications within a specialist child and adolescent eating disorders program.

Pre-referral

Age at onset, yrs

12.79 (1.79)

12.81 (1.64)

12.95 (1.29)

ns

-

Untreated duration of illness, mths

8.64 (7.61)

11.11 (7.98)

8.89 (7.76)

ns

-

History of DSH/suicidal ideation

27% (16)

33% (8)

36% (8)

ns

-

History of DSH acts

15% (9)

21% (5)

22% (4)

ns

-

History of suicidal acts

3% (2)

0% (0)

5% (1)

ns

-

Intake

Age at referral, yrs

13.50 (1.76)

13.85 (1.49)

13.73 (1.60)

ns

-

Primary diagnosis

ns

-

AN

41% (27)

48% (13)

68% (15)

-

-

non-AN

59% (39)

52% (14)

32% (7)

-

-

(BN)

3% (2)

7% (2)

9% (2)

-

-

(EDNOS)

56% (37)

44% (12)

23% (5)

-

-

Axis I comorbidity

29% (19)

74% (20)

73% (16)

<.001

0 < exp; 1–2 > exp

EDE

2.53 (1.57)

2.94 (1.59)

3.88 (1.58)

.003

1-2, 3+ > 0

CDI t score

51.60 (21.87)

59.77 (17.80)

67.045 (18.33)

.008

3+ > 0

MASC t score

52.94 (13.47)

53.24 (11.66)

59.10 (13.22)

ns

-

ADES

1.95 (1.71)

2.16 (1.80)

2.57 (2.17)

ns

-

BMI z score

−1.50 (1.38)

−1.60 (1.20)

−1.76 (.96)

ns

-

EDP

Inpatient admissions

0.48 (.71)

2.04 (2.28)

6.82 (8.82)

<.001

3+ > 0, 1-2

Inpatient bed days

11.67 (18.59)

59.96 (82.69)

166.05 (218.58)

<.001

3+ > 0, 1-2

DSH new onset

2% (1)

20% (5)

59% (13)

<.001

0 < exp; 3+ > exp

Suicidality new onset

3% (2)

15% (4)

36% (8)

<.001

0 < exp; 3+ > exp

Presence of objective binge episodes

24% (16)

38% (10)

68% (15)

.001

3+ > exp