An inpatient treatment program for anorexia nervosa patients

Abstract

Inpatient treatment for anorexia nervosa can be necessary for medical, psychosocial or psychotherapeutic reasons. In general, these patients are characterized by negative selection characteristics (illness duration, failures of previous treatments, unfavorable natural milieu, poor motivation). An inpatient treatment program, in which 145 female patients have been admitted, is described. It consists of 2 phases: a 1st symptom-directed phase aims at weight restoration and normalization of eating through behavior therapy principles; in a 2nd problem-oriented phase, patients are oriented either towards outpatient treatment (family therapy, individual psychotherapy) or, in the majority of the described cases, to an inpatient psychotherapeutic community program. The difficulties of this approach and outcome results at long-term follow-up are discussed.