Eating disorder treatment can be delivered in a variety of settings. Understanding the different levels of care and methodologies can be helpful when selecting a provider. It’s also good to understand types of treatment because insurance benefits are tied both to diagnosis and the type of treatment setting.
Levels of Care
The list below is ordered from least intensive to most intensive treatment levels.
INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT/OUTPATIENT
- Patient is medically stable and does not need daily medical monitoring
- Patient is psychiatrically stable and has symptoms under sufficient control to be able to function in normal social, educational, or vocational situations and continue to make progress in recovery
PARTIAL HOSPITAL
Patient is medically stable but:
- Eating disorder impairs functioning, though without immediate risk
- Needs daily assessment of physiologic and mental status
Patient is psychiatrically stable but:
- Unable to function in normal social, educational, or vocational situations
- Engages in daily binge eating, purging, fasting or very limited food intake, or other pathogenic weight control techniques
RESIDENTIAL
- Patient is medically stable and requires no intensive medical intervention
- Patient is psychiatrically impaired and unable to respond to partial hospital or outpatient treatment
INPATIENT
Patient is medically unstable as determined by:
- Unstable or depressed vital signs
- Laboratory findings presenting acute health risk
- Complications due to coexisting medical problems such as diabetes
Patient is psychiatrically unstable as determined by:
- Rapidly worsening symptoms
- Suicidal and unable to contract for safety
For more details, see: APA Practice Guidelines for Eating Disorders, 3rd Edition