Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications

Language

English

Publication Date

11-1-2025

Journal

Journal of Eating Disorders

DOI

10.1002/eat.24534

PMID

40842163

PMCID

PMC12605622

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

8-21-2025

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Post-print

Abstract

Objective: Access to follow-up care after a medical admission for adolescents with anorexia nervosa (AN) is important; yet access can be delayed or unavailable. This study assessed the feasibility and acceptability of a supplemental virtual 8-week outpatient group therapy program following inpatient care. A secondary aim explored the outpatient program's impact on self-reported anxiety, disordered eating, and depression symptoms, and readmission rates.

Method: A retrospective chart review study compared 68 adolescents (aged 11-18) with AN enrolled in an 8-week group therapy program (Recovery and Prevention Program [RAPP]) to 64 adolescents who were not enrolled in RAPP (historical cohort). "RAPP completers" were defined as having attended 75% of their scheduled virtual therapy appointments.

Results: RAPP demonstrated strong feasibility and acceptability, with a weekly attendance averaging 80%, and high participant satisfaction ratings (4.2 out of 5). Within-group comparisons of RAPP participants found that greater attendance was associated with decreased anxiety (p = 0.01) and ED symptoms (p < 0.001). Compared to females in the historical cohort, female RAPP completers had lower readmission rates within 6 months of discharge (p = 0.03).

Discussion: This is the first study to demonstrate feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary changes over time in appointment attendance and self-reported mental health symptoms among adolescents with AN discharging from an inpatient ED program participating in a supplemental virtual group therapy program.

Public significance: This study demonstrated that an 8-week virtual group therapy program (RAPP) is feasible and acceptable to adolescents with AN post-inpatient treatment and could serve as a promising supplement to family-based treatment to improve access to necessary follow-up care, including publicly insured patients from primarily Spanish-speaking families.

Keywords

Humans, Adolescent, Female, Anorexia Nervosa, Psychotherapy, Group, Retrospective Studies, Feasibility Studies, Male, Child, Anxiety, Patient Satisfaction, Inpatients, Hospitalization, Cohort Studies, Patient Readmission, Treatment Outcome, access to care, eating disorders, group therapy, RAPP, telemedicine, virtual therapy

Published Open-Access

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