Eating disorder treatment is classified into five levels. The severity of an eating disorder determines the sort of therapy required. The type and frequency of symptoms being experienced, any co-occurring disorders that require treatment, and the need for medical monitoring will all be considered when determining the appropriate level of care. Eating disorder treatment levels include:
Outpatient Treatment. Outpatient treatment is appropriate for medically stable individuals and entails the patient attending weekly sessions with their therapist.
Intensive Outpatient Treatment. Intensive outpatient treatment is appropriate for people who are medically stable but need additional support to reduce abnormal or disturbed eating habits and make progress in recovery. Intensive outpatient programs are usually held in a specialized setting and need repeated visits (usually three to five days per week). Patients can live at home while receiving daily group therapy, meal support, and individual sessions.
Partial Hospitalization. A partial hospitalization program will benefit those who are medically stable but require more intensive scheduled programming. It includes individual therapy, dietary guidance and meal planning assistance, group therapy, family therapy, and one or two supportive meals during all-day programming 5 to 7 days a week.
Residential Treatment. Residential treatment is intended for those who are medically stable yet continue to engage in disordered behaviors. Intensive supervision and support are necessary to assist the individual in minimizing and eventually ceasing self-destructive eating disorder behaviors. This is a 24-hour program in which a patient lives on-site in a regulated setting and participates in multiple weekly sessions of individual therapy, dietary guidance and meal planning assistance, group therapy, family therapy, and psychiatric care.
Inpatient Treatment. Inpatient treatment is provided to individuals who are medically unstable and require medical attention. It is carried out in a hospital environment and includes medical care and intense treatment of physically harmful eating habits, medical complications, and co-existing disorders, as well as an emphasis on weight restoration if necessary.