Participation in the partial hospitalization program is tapered as patients normalize their eating behaviors and their weight. The inpatient medical and nursing team staffs the partial hospitalization program, ensuring continuity of care and treatment philosophy. Therapy is intensive and practical and is aimed at developing increased control over normal eating and weight and body image. It also addresses psychological issues that could lead to relapse. The Inpatient Program, which offers the most intensive level of care, is combined with the partial hospitalization program.
Patients progress to the partial hospitalization program as soon as they are able.
Just like the partial hospitalization program, treatment goals include recovering healthy eating habits and normal weight. A team of psychiatrists and consulting physicians addresses medical and psychiatric complications of eating disorders. Examples include medication management of depression or obsessive-compulsive disorder or diagnostic tests for medical conditions that may complicate an eating disorder. Hopkins Research Johns Hopkins eating disorders research includes a clinical study probing the biology behind these disorders and an ongoing treatment outcome study aimed at identifying who benefits most from treatment and how to improve treatments for eating disorders. Clinical Trials Johns Hopkins researchers are conducting a neuroimaging study of opiate receptors in bulimia nervosa.