Booklet on Medical Management of “ED” gains momentum

November 2011: 

The Eating Disorders Guide to Medical Management,
The Eating Disorders Guide to Medical Management, developed by the Medical Care Standards Task Force (MCSTF) of the Academy for Eating Disorders (AED), is available for distribution.The task force is co-chaired by Dr Ovidio Bermudez (Denver) and Dr Mark Warren (Cleveland).  Other task force members include: Dr Debra Katzman (Toronto), Dr Anne Becker (Boston), Dr Ellen Rome (Cleveland), Dr Ed Tyson (Austin), Dr Michael Devlin (New York), Dr Beth McGilley (Wichita), Ms Mary Beth Krohel (New York), and Ms Karine Bartou (London).  developed by the Medical Care Standards Task Force (MCSTF) of the Academy for Eating Disorders (AED), is available for distribution.Formally titled Eating Disorders–Critical Points for Early Recognition and Medical Risk Management in the Care of Individuals with Eating Disorders, it has been endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Psychiatric Association, the Canadian Paediatric Society and the Society of Adolescent Health and Medicine. The MCSTF is seeking endorsement from the American Psychological Association and the American Dietetic Association and expect other endorsements to follow.

The document was developed and vetted by an international multidisciplinary group, which included families and other key advocates, with the intent to enhance early recognition by front line professionals and improve the quality of the initial assessment and medical management of individuals with eating disorders.  The primary goal is to decrease the heightened morbidity and mortality that can occur as a result of delays in diagnosis and appropriate/timely intervention. It was not intended to be an exhaustive resource or complete guide, but to highlight critical areas and also concise enough to be widely read by primary care providers and ED treating professionals.

In partnership with the American Medical Association and the National Eating Disorders Association, the AED is involved in the development of a CME product that will be made available for physicians throughout the globe based on the standards set forth by the guide.

The document is being translated into Spanish and French. Other translations will be pursued as requested.

The booklet was launched at the 2011 International Conference on Eating Disorders of the AED in Miami.  It has been distributed at MEDA, NEDA, the American Psychological Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and FEAST.  It will also be available at the Renfrew conference in November and ICED 2012 in Austin.  The Task Force is seeking help with distribution from organizations around the world, including from the AED Sister Organizations.

Small quantities of the guide can be downloaded from the AED website: http://www.aedweb.org/Medical_Care_Standards.htm. Suggestions for distribution would be greatly appreciated.  Generous advocates have provided funding for printing and distribution of 44,000 copies of the booklet free of charge. Copies in quantities of 100 -250 (can fit up to 250 copies in one small box) or more are available for medical schools, residency programs (pediatrics, Ob-Gyn, Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine etc.), international or regional meetings, advocacy organizations and treatment providers.

Send order requests to Annie Cox at: acox@aedweb.org with “AED Guide” in the subject line.  State how many copies you need and the mailing address to be shipped to. Donations to support ongoing printing and distribution are encouraged and welcomed. To make a donation, write a cheque/check made payable to: Academy for Eating Disorders, write “MCSTF” in the memo line and post to:

Attn: Annie Cox,Academy for Eating Disorders
111 Deer Lake Road, Suite 100, Deerfield, IL 60015 USA

SWAN puts ED on trial

Free outpatient treatment for anorexia nervosa: the Strong Without Anorexia Nervosa (SWAN) study

I’m blowing my Aussie trumpet a little here.

Three promising state of the art treatments for anorexia nervosa are being compared in a world-first study led by researchers from The University of Western Australia (A/Prof. Susan Byrne), Flinders University (Prof. Tracey Wade), The University of Sydney (Prof. Stephen Touyz), and The University of Western Sydney (Prof. Phillipa Hay). International collaborators from Oxford University, Kings College London, and The University of Otago are also involved.

The SWAN study takes the form of a multi-centre randomised controlled trial of three psychological treatments for anorexia nervosa and atypical anorexia. The National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia is funding the research. Participants receive between 25 and 40 free, outpatient, individual sessions with a psychologist over a 10-month period. Treatment is being offered in Perth, Sydney and Adelaide.

Currently, there are no guidelines regarding the best treatment options for adults with anorexia nervosa. The three treatments being evaluated in this study have previously been found to produce promising results, and include Enhanced Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT-E), the Maudsley Anorexia Nervosa Treatment for Adults (MANTRA), and Specialist Supportive Clinical Management for anorexia nervosa (SSCM).

Results from the SWAN trial are expected to provide much needed information about the relative efficacy of these alternate treatments for anorexia nervosa.

The four-year trial commenced in April 2010 and has generated more than 250 inquiries. More than 50 participants have been enrolled in treatment and referrals are being accepted until early 2013. The trial is suited to men and women aged 18 years and over with anorexia nervosa or atypical anorexia nervosa.

This a great opportunity to get involved in research that can help you and holds promise of helping many others.

Additional information regarding the trial can be found on the SWAN website, athttp://www.psychology.uwa.edu.au/research/swan-study . Inquiries also can be directed to Dr Karina Allen, Study Coordinator, attreatmenttrial-psy@uwa.edu.au .