The effectiveness of, and predictors of response to, inpatient treatment of anorexia nervosa

ObjectiveThe inpatient treatment of anorexia nervosa lacks a clear evidence base. We sought to determine the effectiveness of, and predictors of response to, a specialist inpatient programme for adults with anorexia nervosa, and to survey satisfaction with the same.MethodDemographic and clinical data were collected, at three time points, for 90 consecutive admission episodes over a three-year period.ResultsBoth a completers and an intention-to-treat analysis indicated the effectiveness of the programme. A longer length of hospital stay was associated with a greater degree of change in BMI, but no other predictors of treatment outcome were detected. Participants reported a high degree of satisfaction with the programme.ConclusionAdults suffering from anorexia nervosa improved significantly with a specialist programme delivered in an inpatient setting. Future research should investigate the potential role of factors other than obvious demographic and clinical history variables in determining treatment outcome