Delphi study reveals clinical consensus on behavioral criteria but divergence on illness duration in eating disorder practitioners, indicating the need for a rehabilitative model.
OBJECTIVE: Anorexia nervosa (AN) can be an enduring condition. Increasing interest in the treatment of long-term cases has occurred over the recent years. This study explored healthcare practitioners' views of what constitutes a case of chronic AN and their opinions of its treatment. METHOD: A Delphi study was conducted, involving members of specialist groups for professionals with an interest in eating disorders and delegates from a conference about enduring AN. RESULTS: Participants reached agreement and consensus on factors relating to weight, behaviors, and cognitions in cases of chronic AN, but did not for the importance of duration and number of treatment attempts. Adopting a supportive, co-ordinated, and eclectic approach was considered important in the care of these patients. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that chronic AN is not an easy term to define and that a rehabilitative model for working with this patient group may be required.
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Tierney et al. (2008) studied this question.
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