REFERRALS TO A COMPREHENSIVE EATING DISORDERS SERVICE

Aim. The purpose of this study was to review referral patterns and man agement decisions of patients consecutively referred to a comprehensiv e eating disorders service over a 12 month period. Method. Data were c ollected from 211 patients referred to the eating disorders service in 1993 as part of an ongoing quality assurance programme undertaken by the service. Results. Seventy seven percent of referrals were received directly from general practitioners and 84% patients presented with a clinically significant eating disorder subsequently managed on an out patient basis. Additional psychiatric diagnoses were present in 58% of all cases. Inpatient admission was a rare but prolonged event. Conclu sion. Although referral rates have escalated over recent years, most p atients have at least one clinically significant psychiatric disorder requiring active intervention. Additional psychopathology over and abo ve an eating disorder is common, and on occasions this takes treatment precedence. There are numerous treatment, teaching, and efficiency ad vantages in providing speciality eating disorder services, although it would seem difficult to justify multiple inpatient sites within any r egional health authority.