Residential versus day program treatment for eating disorders: A comparison of post-treatment outcomes and predictors

Sinead Day; Deborah Mitchison; Haider Mannan; W. Kathy Tannous; Janet Conti; Amanda Dearden; Aunty Kerrie Doyle; Katherine Gill; Amy Hannigan; Catherine Houlihan; Lucie Ramjan; Rebekah Rankin; Natalie Valentine; Phillipa Hay

doi:10.1016/j.jad.2024.11.054

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Residential versus day program treatment for eating disorders: A comparison of post-treatment outcomes and predictors

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Residential versus day program treatment for eating disorders: A comparison of post-treatment outcomes and predictors

Sinead Day, Deborah Mitchison, Haider Mannan, W. Kathy Tannous, Janet Conti, Amanda Dearden, Aunty Kerrie Doyle, Katherine Gill, Amy Hannigan, Catherine Houlihan, …

Journal of Affective Disorders, Vol.371, pp.177-186

2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2024.11.054

PMID: 39577499

Appears in UniSC Diversity and Inclusion Research Collection

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Abstract

Day program

Eating disorder

Outcome

Predictor

Residential

Treatment

UniSC Diversity Area - Disability and Inclusion

Both residential and day programs for eating disorders provide options for a step-up from standard outpatient care. However, there have not been any direct comparisons of their effectiveness and limited research on predictors of better outcomes from either setting. This study aimed to compare clinical outcomes and predictors from a transdiagnostic residential and day program for eating disorders. Measures of eating disorder symptoms, body mass index (BMI), anxiety, and depression were completed by 106 participants (n = 82 residential, n = 24 day program) at pre-treatment, after four weeks, and at discharge. Greater improvement from pre- to post-treatment was evident from residential, compared to day program, treatment (all ps .005, medium effect sizes). After accounting for age, baseline BMI, and treatment duration, lower baseline eating disorder symptoms (β = 0.84, p < .001) and greater early change in eating disorder symptoms (β = −0.88, p < .001) each predicted less severe eating psychopathology at discharge. Longer treatment duration predicted better post-treatment outcomes for the day program, but was less predictive of residential outcomes (β = 0.64, p < .001). Post-treatment outcomes were not predicted by age or baseline BMI, anxiety, or depression. As symptom severity did not differ at baseline, results support residential treatment over day programs for individuals with more severe eating disorder presentations. Future research should examine whether day programs are equally effective as residential treatment at lower baseline symptom severity and compare residential care with more intensive settings such as inpatient services.

Details

Title: Residential versus day program treatment for eating disorders: A comparison of post-treatment outcomes and predictors
Authors: Sinead Day (Corresponding Author) - Western Sydney University
Deborah Mitchison - University of Technology Sydney
Haider Mannan - Western Sydney University
W. Kathy Tannous - Western Sydney University
Janet Conti - Western Sydney University
Amanda Dearden - Queensland Eating Disorder Service (Australia)
Aunty Kerrie Doyle - Western Sydney University
Katherine Gill - FND Australia Support Services Inc (Australia)
Amy Hannigan - Queensland Eating Disorder Service (Australia)
Catherine Houlihan - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health - Psychology
Lucie Ramjan - Western Sydney University
Rebekah Rankin - Western Sydney University
Natalie Valentine - Wandi Nerida (Mooloolah Valley, Australia)
Phillipa Hay - Western Sydney University
Publication details: Journal of Affective Disorders, Vol.371, pp.177-186
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date published: 2025
DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.11.054
ISSN: 1573-2517
PMID: 39577499
Data Availability: Data available on request due to privacy/ethical restrictions.
Grant note: Sinead Day and Rebekah Rankin are supported by the Research Training scholarship at Western Sydney University, which is co-funded by the Butterfly Foundation. Sinead Day and Rebekah Rankin are also supported by the Digital Health Cooperative Research Centre (DHCRC) scholarship for higher degree research.
Organisation Unit: School of Health - Psychology
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991089697802621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Clinical Neurology; Psychiatry

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