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Tertiary eating disorder services: is it time to integrate specialty care across the life span?

Author
Abstract
:

Australian tertiary eating disorder services (EDS) have a divided model of care, where child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) support patients until the age of 18 years, and thereafter, adult mental health services (AMHS) provide care. Consumers and carers have criticised this divided model because the age boundary occurs during the peak period of onset and acuity for eating disorders. Most CAMHS patients are lost to specialty follow-up around age 18, increasing the risks of relapse and premature mortality from eating disorders, since young women (aged 15-24) have the highest hospitalisation rates from anorexia nervosa. The current article is a commentary on the transition gap and possible service designs.

Year of Publication
:
2021
Journal
:
Australasian psychiatry : bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists
Volume
:
29
Issue
:
5
Number of Pages
:
516-518
ISSN Number
:
1039-8562
URL
:
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/10398562211010802?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%3dpubmed
DOI
:
10.1177/10398562211010802
Short Title
:
Australas Psychiatry
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