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Leitlinien und Empfehlungen für die Praxis

Herausforderungen in der ambulanten Behandlung essgestörter Kinder und Jugendlicher

Ein Blick auf die Regelversorgung

Published Online:https://doi.org/10.1026/0942-5403/a000295

Zusammenfassung. Essstörungen gehören zu den schwerwiegendsten psychischen Erkrankungen und beeinträchtigen die körperliche und psychische Entwicklung der meist weiblichen Kinder und Jugendlichen erheblich, und dies oftmals über Jahre. Trotz intensiver Bemühungen und Verbesserungen der Versorgungssituation in den letzten 20 Jahren ist die Behandlung noch nicht so wirksam, wie es notwendig wäre. Es wird aus der Perspektive der ambulanten Kinder- und Jugendpsychotherapie auf einige zentrale Herausforderungen in der Arbeit mit essgestörten jungen Menschen eingegangen, Stärken sowie Schwachstellen werden aufgezeigt und mögliche Lösungswege zur Diskussion gestellt. Den Bezugsrahmen stellen die Grundlagen der kognitiven Verhaltenstherapie (KVT) bei Essstörungen, schulenübergreifende Wirkfaktoren und Erfahrungen aus der eigenen Praxis dar. Einleitend werden die ambulante und stationäre Versorgungssituation in Deutschland kurz umrissen und zentrale Studienergebnisse zusammengefasst.


Challenges in Outpatient Psychotherapeutic Care for Eating Disorders in Children and Adolescents: A Clinical Practitioner’s View

Abstract. Eating disorders (ED) such as anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), and binge eating disorder (BED) are among the most serious psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents. They have a severe and sometimes lifelong impact on physical and mental development. Especially juvenile AN can lead to chronic conditions requiring many years of treatment. In spite of intensive effort and progress in research, as well as medical and therapeutic care, treatment is not yet as effective as needed. From the perspective of a clinical outpatient practice, this article highlights essential challenges in working with patients suffering from ED, outlines strengths and difficulties of treatment, and offers possible solutions for further discussion. The authors refer to the basics of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for ED, central therapeutic concepts and effects beyond CBT, as well as outpatient data derived from their own practice. As an introduction, the present situation in inpatient and outpatient care for ED in Germany is outlined and essential research results for different therapeutic settings are presented. Outpatient care in Germany is mainly based on local psychotherapeutic practices with specialists for child and adolescent psychotherapy (behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy). Currently, new models of outpatient care are established within the health-care system (e. g., multiprofessional team approach) but are not yet available throughout the country. Whereas treatment in specialized clinics for ED is broadly based on clinical expert guidelines, outpatient care seems to be far more heterogeneous. Data of 79 patients (73.4 % AN, 19 % BN, 7.6 % not specified ED, mean age, 15 years 5 months) from the authors’ practice show that about one quarter of patients with AN did not need inpatient care before, throughout, or after treatment. The following factors seem to have a positive impact on treatment procedure and outcome in outpatient care: therapeutic alliance (e. g., expressing interest in the patient, acceptance of their condition and dysfunctional solutions), active client involvement in treatment strategies (e. g., participation in developing nutrition and weight plans), individually matched family treatment (e. g., careful assessment of family climate and ability to cooperate), collaboration with other specialists (ideally in specialized local networks consisting of professionals such as medical doctors, child and adolescent psychiatrists, and dietitians), carefully planned transition between inpatient and outpatient care, and better communication between professionals during hospitalization (e. g., faster exchange of medical reports). In summary, the authors suggest: (1) improvement of access to multiprofessional, specialized outpatient care for ED within the health-care system; (2) improvement of training for psychotherapists concerning ED in children and adolescents; (3) an eclectic, but guideline-based, outcare treatment concept that integrates CBT with other effective approaches; and (4) further research investigating outpatient treatment for young people with ED.

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