The intensive outreach programme for child and adolescent eating disorders: an uncontrolled case series of clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes.

INTRODUCTION

Despite growing interest, empirical evidence remains limited for the efficacy of intensive outpatient programmes (IOPs) for eating disorders (EDs), particularly outside the USA. No prior studies have examined the delivery or effectiveness of IOPs for children and young people in the UK. This study addresses this gap by presenting pilot data from a UK-based community IOP embedded within an existing child and adolescent ED service.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective cohort study of young people aged 12-18 years referred to the IOP at the Maudsley Centre for Child and Adolescent Eating Disorders between February 2024 and August 2025. Eligible participants had a diagnosis of an ED according to ICD-11 criteria, or disordered eating requiring acute admission, and completed the IOP treatment. Data were collected on referral pathways, demographic and clinical characteristics, treatment course, and outcomes, including change in weight and self-reported ED/mental health symptoms.

RESULTS

During the recruitment period the IOP served a heterogeneous cohort of 68 young people with high rates of psychiatric and neurodevelopmental comorbidity. Treatment delivery included outreach on paediatric wards, intensified outpatient treatment, and consultation with wider care networks. Mean duration of the IOP was 24 days (SD = 10.7). Most participants demonstrated improved weight trajectory (mean weight gain = 4.5% mBMI, SD = 6.8, p < 0.001). ED symptom psychopathology did not significantly improve over the short IOP duration.

CONCLUSION

Findings indicate that a brief IOP intervention is effective for weight restoration in underweight adolescents with EDs, functioning as both an intensification of outpatient treatment and an effective way of keeping young people in the community who are at high risk of an inpatient admission. Future research would benefit from controlled designs, explore long-term outcomes, and examine adaptations for neurodiverse populations.