Eating disorder hospitalization

Hospitalization for eating disorder depends on the weight status of the patient, the presence of medical complications, and the presence of related psychiatric comorbidities, such as depression, suicidal behavior, and OCD. Hospitalization for AN may be brief or extended. Inpatient brief hospitalization (7-14 days) is for patients who have (1) relapsed from previous treatment or have been ill for less than 6 months (2) a weight loss of 10%-15% from normal weight if they have relapsed, or 16%-20% if this is their first episode (3) hypokalemic alkalosis with serum potassium < 2.5 mEq/L and (4) cardiac arrhythmias. To promote rapid weight gain, patients can be placed on a liquid formula... 

Weisman, C., Sunday, S., Klapper, E, Harris, W., Halmi K.A. (2001) Changing patterns of hospitalization in eating disorder patients. Int ] Eat Disord 30 69-74. 

TABLE 62—2. Criteria for Hospitalization of Patients with Eating Disorders... 

The Management of Really Sick Patients with Anorexia Nervosa (MARSIPAN, 2014) report advises that extremely unwell patients should be managed on a Specialist Eating Disorder Unit (SEDU) unless they need interventions only available in a medical hospital, e.g. IV fluids, cardiac monitoring. 

Additional options for refractory disorders include the augmentation of antidepressant treatment with an opiate blocking agent such as naltrexone or consideration of partial or full hospitalization to provide a more structured environment for normalizing the aberrant eating behavior. 

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