The Effectiveness of, and Predictors of Response to, Inpatient Treatment of Anorexia Nervosa

Objective: The 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. Method: Demographic and clinical data were collected, at three time points, for 90 consecutive admission episodes over a three-year period. Results: Both 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. Conclusion: Adults 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. Copyright (C) 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.