Longer Day Hospital Stays Improve Abstinence

Dr. Marion Olmsted and colleagues previously published a study where the duration of day hospital treatment was reduced from 5 days to 4 days a week, which resulted in a reduction in efficacy of treatment. In a study recently reported at the Eating Disorders Research Society meeting in New York City, the authors increased day hospital treatment to 5 days weekly among 972 patients who had anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or eating disorders not otherwise specified.

Dr. Olmstead and team reported there was no significant effect on weight gain for patients with anorexia nervosa; 46% to 58% achieved full weight restoration during day hospital treatment. However, the increased treatment intensity was related to reductions in binge-eating and vomiting; abstinence rates were 46% and 51% in the 5-day programs and 25% in the 4-day program–a significant difference.