University eating disorder program

Our interdisciplinary services are provided by adolescent medicine physicians, child and adolescent psychiatry and psychology, clinical social workers, dietetics, and an educational specialist. We recognize that eating disorders are complicated illnesses caused by genetic, psychological and psychosocial factors, and that neither our patients nor their families are responsible for having developed an eating disorder.

Our outpatient treatment program includes outpatient visits with a therapist psychologist or clinical social worker , psychiatrist when indicated , and adolescent medicine. Our comprehensive outpatient program provides state-of-the-art assessment and treatment services to children, adolescents and adults with a broad range of eating- and weight-related problems. Treating eating disorders requires an interdisciplinary approach to care and treatment.

Our team includes therapists, psychiatrists and medical staff who work together to provide individualized patient care that is informed by the latest advances in eating disorders research. Our care program provides comprehensive outpatient services to children, adolescents and adults with eating disorders, including:. Because eating disorders can have serious medical consequences, we need to ensure that symptoms can be managed safely on an outpatient basis.

All patients complete a thorough diagnostic assessment and medical evaluation before starting treatment. In some cases, ongoing medical monitoring during treatment may be needed. The goals and length of outpatient eating disorders treatment depend on the needs of each patient. Adults typically are treated using cognitive-behavioral therapy CBT , which focuses on normalizing eating behavior, eliminating unhealthy methods of weight control — such as excessive exercise, self-induced vomiting, laxative misuse — and decreasing the degree to which concerns about eating, weight and body shape affect the way patients feel about themselves.

Our program focuses on self-monitoring of eating behavior, as well as thoughts and feelings related to eating, weight and body shape. Treatment also includes re-introduction of avoided foods, techniques designed to challenge negative beliefs about eating, weight and body shape, and regular weighing.

For patients with bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder, treatment typically is short term, approximately 20 sessions. For underweight patients, treatment lasts longer, approximately 40 sessions. Children and adolescents typically are treated using family-based treatment FBT , an evidence-based psychotherapy that puts parent s temporarily in charge of helping to reduce the control that an eating disorder has over their child's life.

The first stage of FBT focuses on weight restoration and reducing eating disorder symptoms. As treatment progresses, parent s return control over eating back to their child and help him or her with normal developmental tasks.

This program typically addresses eating disorder issues in sessions over the course of months. In order to quickly respond to your needs, a trained mental health professional is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our assessment and referral staff assesses each individual to determine his or her behavioral health needs and makes referrals based on those needs. To speak to someone directly, please call We offer a continuum of care designed to meet every patient's needs. This includes inpatient, day hospital, outpatient, and full consultation services.

Thank you for intervening at a critical moment in my life. A year ago I believed recovery was impossible. I am truly amazed at what I have been able to accomplish with the help of your program. What you see in your child is this behavior that is irrational - you feel both helpless and to blame. The expert care we received at Johns Hopkins empowered my two daughters to fight their eating disorder and equipped our family with the tools to understand it and to help them succeed.

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