Eating Disorder Clinics
First4Rehab works with a range of eating disorder clinics, both in the UK and overseas. Although some do form part of larger drug and alcohol rehab units, we also work with a number of specialist eating disorder clinics, dedicated solely to the treatment of anorexia, bulimia, binge eating and compulsive overeating.
Regarded as a behavioural disorder, it is a serious mental illness that affects over 70 million people worldwide, with 24 million in the US alone. Although eating disorders primarily affect women (usually between the ages of 12 and 25), an estimated 10 – 15% of sufferers are male, and this number is growing year on year. Men are also more reluctant to admit they have a problem and invariably access treatment at a more advance stage of the illness. Without treatment, up to 20% of those with a serious eating disorder will die within a short timescale. |
 |
 |
General counselling or day-care is unlikely to resolve more severe eating disorder cases. For these people, a highly structured and more intensive programme at a residential eating disorder clinic is required. A team of specialists, including therapists, medical/nursing staff and psychologists will help develop an individual treatment plan which may include group therapy, one-to-one counselling sessions, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), support group meetings and medical consultations. During the initial phase of treatment, meals will be planned according to the client’s physical needs, and any opportunities for purging or excessive exercising will be avoided. Personal items such as exercise weights, laxatives, weighing scales or diuretics will be confiscated upon admission. Eating disorder clinics are staffed on a 24-hour basis, usually by specialist eating disorder nursing staff. Treatment programmes usually last over a two to three month period, and First4Rehab has
a number of cost-effective solutions for longer-term requirements. |
Some eating disorder clinics offer out-patient therapy services which can be a more cost-effective form of treatment. It is generally viewed, however, that in-patient programmes are the most successful form of primary care for the treatment of eating disorders, and out-patient services are an effective transition for those who have completed this first stage of their treatment.
Aftercare services are a crucial element of the treatment programme, and most eating disorder clinics place great emphasis on continued follow-up care, thus giving the individual the best possible chance of long-term recovery.
For further information regarding eating disorder clinics, please feel free to contact one of our First4Rehab advisors. We are available on 0845 555 8822, 07875 154177 or 0044 (0) 20 7193 4906. Alternatively you can email us at advice@first4rehab.com
|
