An evaluation of a CAMHS outpatient service for adolescent eating disorders.

BACKGROUND

A CAMHS Eating Disorder (ED) service is presented together with cases referred and treated within a 3-year period. An outcome evaluation was conducted for restrictive eating disorders.

METHOD: Case files were analysed to investigate service throughput as well as clinical outcomes for discharged cases (n = 39).

RESULTS

Highly positive End of Treatment (EOT) outcomes were achieved for both anorexia nervosa (AN) and Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS). Morgan Russell scores, drop-out and admission rates compared favourably with previous trials. User satisfaction ratings were high.

CONCLUSION

The study offers insight into real-life clinical practice and as outpatient treatment is usually much less expensive than inpatient treatment, this approach has the potential to be cost-effective.