Treatment Options - Overview
Overview of Treatment |
Family Therapy |
Individual Therapy
Movement Therapy|
Nutrition Counseling|
Psychopharmacology
An Overview of Treatment of Eating Disorders and Levels of Care:
Effective treatment for eating disorders is provided by a multidisciplinary treatment team comprised of licensed health professionals including psychologists, psychiatrists, nutritionists, social workers, art and movement therapists, primary care providers, pediatricians and dentists. Treatment includes one or more forms of psychotherapy, such as individual, family or group therapy, as well as medical management and nutrition counseling. Psychotropic medications are helpful for some people and, when indicated, are managed by a psychiatrist. Other effective treatment approaches include art therapy, movement therapy and support groups.
Treatment is individualized and varies according to the severity of presenting problems. Many people struggling with eating disorders respond to outpatient therapy. However, higher levels of care are necessary when the person’s eating disorder has reached a level of severe psychological or behavioral problems or has led to medical conditions that are life-threatening.
The following is a brief description of various levels of care available in the treatment of eating disorders:
* Inpatient Care - Inpatient care in a hospital or residential facility provides a structured and monitored environment with access to clinical support 24 hours a day. Inpatient treatment is often short-term and focuses on medical and psychological stabilization. Many inpatient programs are affiliated with partial hospital or “day” programs that enable a person to step up or down in care according to his/her needs.
* Partial Hospitalization Programs - Partial hospitalization programs (PHP) often involve 12 hours of treatment per day. PHP includes meals, various forms of therapy and numerous other interventions, such as grocery shopping, meal preparation, restaurant outings, etc. These programs allow patients to return home overnight, while some provide housing or hotel accommodations.
* Intensive Outpatient Programs - Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) involve about 4 hours of treatment per day, often late afternoon through evenings, to accommodate a person’s work and/or school schedule. IOP often includes various forms of group therapy as well as dinner, and is a step up in level of care from traditional outpatient therapy.
* Outpatient Care - The care provided by professionals of the The Eating Disorder Consortium of Baltimore is considered Outpatient Therapy. For patients who are medically stable and appropriate for this level of care, treatment often includes attendance at weekly individual and/or family therapy sessions and nutrition counseling sessions. Additionally, attendance of support groups, group therapy and/or movement therapy is recommended. When psychotropic medication is indicated, sessions with a psychiatrist for evaluation and management are necessary.
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