| Eating disorders are common psychiatric disorders, especially in adolescent and adult females. Given the significant impairment these disorders cause, patients often require intensive inpatient treatment; however the majority of outcome studies are related to outpatient treatment. The purpose of this study was to create and test a theoretical model that predict inpatient treatment outcomes for patients with eating disorders using structural equation modeling. The goal of the current study was to examine predictors of treatment outcomes in an inpatient and partial hospitalization eating disorder program. The sample consisted of a total of 140 subjects with bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa and eating disorders NOS. Empirically supported risk factors for the development and maintenance of eating disorders, including demographic factors, biological factors and psychological factors were included in the model. Structural equation modeling was used because it allows for the production and testing of theoretical models that can then be used in predicting and studying treatment outcomes in this population. To refine the proposed model separate linear regression analyses were conducted on both the psychological and eating disorder severity risk factors and the treatment outcome variable. Overall, psychological severity risk factors model was statistically significant. The results from this multivariate regression using eating disorder severity factors were statistically significant as well. The revised model was tested by an EFA including the variables in the model. The items converged into two factors; however they did not align according to the predicted model of Psychological Severity and Eating Disorder Severity Factors. Instead they formed the first factor termed: Mental Health Factors in ED and the second factor called Self Destructive/Impulsive Behavior. The final model showed a superior fit to the data. One important clinical implication is the effect of financial restraints and health care insurance systems on clinical treatments, as evident by the relatively large number of patients who had to leave treatment early due to financial restraints. Other findings support the need for early treatment intervention to reduce morbidity and mortality. |
