Evaluating individual- and sample-level response to treatment for inpatients with eating disorders: Is change clinically significant?

OBJECTIVE: Evaluating treatment efficacy solely on whether sample-level change is statistically significant does not indicate whether clinically significant change (CSC) has occurred at the individual-level. We assessed whether change in measures of eating disorder psychopathology was statistically significant at the sample-level and clinically significant at the individual-level for inpatients treated in a hospital-based eating disorder program. METHOD: Participants (N = 143) were consecutive underweight distinct admissions diagnosed with anorexia nervosa or other specified feeding and eating disorder. The Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDEQ) and Eating Disorder Recovery Self-efficacy Questionnaire (EDRSQ) were assessed at admission and program discharge. CSC was defined as individual score change that was both statistically reliable and shifted from dysfunctional to normative. RESULTS: Mean EDRSQ and EDEQ scores significantly improved with treatment across the sample; effect sizes were moderate to large. Individual-level analyses demonstrated that 85%, 50%, and 20-35% of participants had CSC or statistically reliable change in BMI, eating symptomatology, and body image respectively. One-third of participants showed CSC on BMI and on at least one self-report measure. DISCUSSION: Individual-level analyses offer more nuanced outcome data that could identify patients at higher risk of relapse who may benefit from adjunctive interventions during or immediately post-discharge. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: This study examined change in eating pathology for inpatients with eating disorders using sample- and individual-level analyses, including whether change was statistically reliable and clinically significant (scores statistically improved and moved into the healthy range). Only half of patients responded robustly to treatment, which may be related to high relapse rates following discharge. Individual-level analyses provided a detailed view of treatment response and may identify patients at higher relapse risk.

Greater dietary variety is associated with lower food anxiety at discharge from intensive eating disorder treatment.

OBJECTIVE: Food anxiety and limited dietary variety often persist after intensive treatment for eating disorders (EDs) and may contribute to relapse. Prior studies demonstrate decreased meal-related anxiety with residential or inpatient treatment, but less is known about changes in dietary variety and anxiety associated with specific foods. The current study assessed change in food anxiety and dietary variety in inpatients with EDs (anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa) in relation to discharge outcomes from meal-based behavioral treatment. METHOD: Patients (N = 128) admitted to a specialized, hospital-based behavioral treatment program completed measures of food anxiety, dietary variety, and ED symptoms at admission and discharge. Demographic and clinical data were abstracted from electronic medical records. A novel network community analysis identified three food anxiety groups: fruit-veg, animal-based, and carb-based foods. RESULTS: High-energy density combination foods were most anxiety-provoking and most avoided. Food anxiety decreased, and dietary variety increased from admission to discharge. Reduction in food anxiety was associated with lower ED symptom scores and higher normative eating self-efficacy at discharge. For animal-based foods, increased dietary variety was associated with lower food anxiety at discharge. Neither variety nor anxiety was associated with weight restoration. DISCUSSION: Findings highlight the importance of broadening dietary variety and targeting food anxiety during the nutritional rehabilitation and weight restoration phase of ED treatment. Increasing dietary variety may contribute to reduced food anxiety, which, in turn, may increase normative eating self-efficacy. These results may help inform nutritional guidelines for meal-based treatment programs. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE: Consuming a greater variety of foods during meal-based intensive treatment may help alleviate food anxiety in patients with eating disorders.

Monitoring and treating hypoglycemia during meal-based rapid nutritional rehabilitation in patients with extreme anorexia nervosa.

PURPOSE: Hypoglycemia, a complication of prolonged starvation, can be life-threatening and is presumed to contribute to the high mortality of anorexia nervosa. Furthermore, early refeeding in severe anorexia nervosa can precipitate paradoxical post-prandial hypoglycemia. Few studies have analyzed the course of hypoglycemia during nutritional rehabilitation in patients with extremely low-weight anorexia nervosa. No standard practice guidelines exist and recommended strategies for managing hypoglycemia (i.e., nasogastric feeds, high-fat diets) have limitations. METHODS: This cohort study assessed prevalence and correlates of hypoglycemia in 34 individuals with very low body mass index (BMI < 14.5 kg/m2) anorexia nervosa treated in an intensive eating disorders program with an exclusively meal-based rapid weight gain nutritional protocol. Hypoglycemia was monitored with frequent point of care (POC) glucose testing and treated with oral snacks and continuous slow intravenous 5% dextrose in 0.45% saline (IV D5 1/2 NS) infusion. RESULTS: POC hypoglycemia was detected in 50% of patients with highest prevalence noted on the day of admission. Hypoglycemia resolved during the first week of hospitalization in most cases and was generally asymptomatic. Seven patients (20.6%) experienced at least one episode of severe hypoglycemia with POC glucose < 50 mg/dl. Lower admission BMI was associated with higher likelihood of developing hypoglycemia and longer duration of hypoglycemia. CONCLUSION: Meal-based management of hypoglycemia supplemented by continuous IV D5 1/2 NS appears a viable alternative to alternate strategies such as enteral tube feeding. We discuss recommendations for hypoglycemia monitoring during nutritional rehabilitation and directions for future research. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective cohort study.

Nonsuicidal Self-Injury: A Nurse-Led Quality Improvement Project to Address Self-Harm.

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) behaviors, such as cutting, scratching, or more severe injuries, are frequently comorbid with neurodevelopmental, intellectual, trauma, personality, and major depressive disorders, complicating treatment and placing added care burdens on hospital nursing staff and advanced practice nurses. Although specific psychopharmacological treatment guidelines and approved medications for NSSI are non-existent, patients are treated with medications approved for co-morbid disorders and behavioral interventions targeting intrapersonal (poor emotional self-regulation) and interpersonal (communication of distress) functions. The current article describes a nurse-led quality improvement project, using the Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle, in a case example. Outcomes include improved staff competencies and policies, yet we remain challenged in implementing planned actions that add additional time burdens to already stretched care providers. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 60(3), 7-10.].

Acceptability and tolerability of a meal-based, rapid refeeding, behavioral weight restoration protocol for anorexia nervosa.

OBJECTIVE: Safe, tolerable, effective approaches to weight restoration are needed for adults with anorexia nervosa (AN). We examined weight outcomes and patient satisfaction with an integrated, inpatient-partial hospitalization, meal-based behavioral program that rapidly weight restores a majority of patients. METHOD: Consecutively discharged inpatients (N = 149) treated on weight gain protocol completed an anonymous questionnaire assessing treatment satisfaction at inpatient discharge. Responders (107/149) rated their satisfaction with program components, feeling included in treatment, and likelihood of returning, or recommending the program to others. Clinical and demographic data were abstracted by chart review on all cases. RESULTS: Over 70% of adult patients met BMI≥19 kg/m2 by program discharge. Mean inpatient rate of gain was 1.85 kg/week (SD = 0.89). A majority (83.2%) would recommend the program to others and 71.4% endorsed a willingness to return if needed. The behavioral treatment focus was rated highly by 82.9% of respondents and was the strongest predictor of likelihood of referring others. DISCUSSION: Results indicate a behaviorally focused, integrated, meal-based specialty program for eating disorders that includes rapid weight gain is acceptable to most participants. Data have implications for quality care, outcome reporting, and cost-effectiveness of inpatient behavioral weight restoration programs for individuals with AN.

Refeeding and weight restoration outcomes in anorexia nervosa: Challenging current guidelines.

OBJECTIVE: Cohort study from February 2003 through May 2011 to determine weight restoration and refeeding complication outcomes for patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) treated in an integrated inpatient-partial hospital eating disorder program designed to produce rapid weight gain and weight restoration in the majority. METHOD: Consecutive admissions (females and males, adolescents and adults; N = 361 patients, 461 admissions) at least 1.8 kg below target weight with AN or subthreshold variants were included. Main outcome measures were rates of hypophosphatemia, transfer to medicine, or death; rates of weight gain and percent achieving weight restoration. RESULTS: Hypophosphatemia was present in 7.9% of cases at admission and in 18.5% at some point during treatment. Hypophosphatemia was mild to moderate. Lower admission body mass index (BMI), but not rate of weight gain, predicted hypophosphatemia [OR = 0.65; p < .00001 (95% CI 0.57-0.76)]. Five patients (1.1%) were transferred to medicine or surgery, none because of refeeding. There were no deaths. Mean inpatient weight gain was 1.98 kg/week; mean partial hospital weight gain was 1.36 kg/week. By program discharge, 71.8% of adults reached a BMI of 19, 58.5% a BMI of 20. For adolescents, 80.4% came within 2 kg of their target weight; 76.1% came within 1 kg. DISCUSSION: Refeeding patients with AN using a hospital-based, behavioral protocol may be accomplished safely and more rapidly than generally recognized, weight restoring most patients by discharge. Helpful elements may include the program's integrated, step-down structure; multidisciplinary team approach emphasizing group therapy to effect behavior change; and close medical monitoring for those with BMI < 15.

Discharge Body Mass Index, Not Illness Chronicity, Predicts 6-Month Weight Outcome in Patients Hospitalized With Anorexia Nervosa.

Proposed treatments for severe and enduring anorexia nervosa (SE-AN) focus on quality of life, and psychological and social functioning. By de-emphasizing weight restoration as a priority, however, premature diagnosis of SE-AN may reduce potential for recovery. The present study assessed the effect of weight restoration, illness duration, and severity on treatment outcome 6 months after discharge from an intensive, meal-based behavioral treatment program. Participants included hospitalized adult women (N = 191) with AN or underweight other specified feeding and eating disorder (OSFED). Participants were characterized as short-term (ill <7 years; n = 74) or long-term ill (ill ≥ 7 years; n = 117). Compared with short-term ill, long-term ill patients were older, had lower lifetime body mass index (BMI), more prior admissions, and exhibited greater depression and neuroticism. Long-term vs. short-term ill patients gained weight at the same rate (~2 kg/wk) and were equally likely to be weight restored by discharge (>75% reached BMI ≥ 19 kg/m2 in both groups). At 6-month follow-up (n = 99), both groups had equivalent self-reported BMI, and depression, drive for thinness, body dissatisfaction, and bulimia scores. The only predictor of BMI ≥ 19 kg/m2 at follow-up was discharge BMI. The likelihood of a BMI ≥ 19 kg/m2 at follow-up was 5-fold higher for those with discharge BMI ≥ 19 kg/m2. Few studies of long-term ill inpatients with AN have examined the impact of full weight restoration on short-term outcomes. This study supports the therapeutically optimistic stance that, regardless of illness duration, hospitalized patients with AN benefit from gaining weight to a BMI ≥ 19 kg/m2.

A modified inpatient eating disorders treatment protocol for postbariatric surgery patients: patient characteristics and treatment response.

BACKGROUND: Bariatric surgery is currently the most effective treatment for obesity. However, outcomes vary and disordered eating may persist or emerge postsurgically. Severe postsurgical eating disorders may require inpatient treatment, and guidelines for the modification of inpatient nutritional treatment protocols for this population are lacking. OBJECTIVES: This paper describes a modified inpatient nutritional protocol for postsurgical patients with eating disorders treated on a behavioral eating disorders unit, and reports patient characteristics and treatment response. SETTINGS: This research was conducted at a university hospital. METHODS: Cases (n = 19) comprised 2% of all eating disorder admissions; 5 were underweight and required weight restoration. Clinical data collected via chart review included disordered eating behaviors, medical and psychiatric co-morbidity, and treatment course. RESULTS: All cases were status post Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (median 5 yr postsurgery). Onset of disordered eating preceded surgery in the majority, and intentional vomiting was the most commonly reported postsurgical disordered eating behavior. The sample was notable for a high level of psychiatric and medical co-morbidity. Patients responded well to the modified treatment protocols, with a majority of patients on the weight gain (60%) and weight maintenance (78%) post-bariatric surgery protocols discharged for clinical improvement. CONCLUSIONS: Postsurgical bariatric patients with eating disorders can be successfully treated on a specialized eating disorders unit. Modification of inpatient eating disorder protocols for those who have undergone bariatric surgery is necessary to address the different physiologic needs of this patient population while providing them with effective psychiatric care.

Using Yoga Nidra to Improve Stress in Psychiatric Nurses in a Pilot Study.

Given today's hurried and stressful heathcare system, nurses need mechanisms to take care of themselves, promote their own wellness, and build resilience in managing sick patients. Yoga is one such mechanism; it can decrease anxiety and improve sleep and quality of life. In this pilot study, nine nurses participated in 6 weekly sessions of yoga nidra. Measures of sleep, stress, and muscle fatigue were obtained to determine whether yoga had a positive impact upon quality of life and stress. Although based on a small sample of nurses, results indicated positive findings for both perceived stress level and muscle fatigue. This pilot study demonstrated the potential benefit of yoga in stress reduction, muscle tension, and self-care in nurses.