The American Psychiatric Association Level of Care Guidelines for Patients with Eating disorders:

Outpatient:

*Medically stable with minimal to no outpatient medical care required

*Able to tolerate and resist eating disorder urges on their own without support most of the time

*1-2 hours of therapy/week is sufficient to maintain use of distress tolerance and coping skills

*Mild preoccupation with food, body image and/or exercise

*Suicidality is mostly passive and rarely requires immediate intervention

*Fair to good motivation and engagement in therapy

Intensive outpatient program:

*Medically stable with minimal outpatient medical care required

*Mild to moderate preoccupation with food, body image and/or exercise with ability to practice cognitive flexibility on their own

*Some degree of semi-regular structure still required to practice skills with support and utilize them outside of treatment independently

*Suicidality is mostly passive and rarely needs immediate intervention

*Fair motivation and engagement with treatment

Partial Hospitalization program:

*Medically stable to the extent that a primary care physician may monitor symptoms on an outpatient basis

*Requires structure throughout the day to engage in self-accountability

*Moderate preoccupation with food, body image and/or exercise with ability to practice cognitive flexibility with support

*Suicidality (passive or active) may be present but primarily require as needed check ins or intervention

*Partial motivation and cooperative with treatment

Residential treatment: 

*Requires 24/7 supervision and structure to prevent client from engaging in compulsive behavior use

*Medical instability indicated by lab work and vital signs

*Behavior use is interfering with functionality around work and school

*For restrictive eating disorders, <85% of Ideal Body Weight (IBW) but not a requirement 

*Moderate to severe preoccupation with food, body image and/or exercise little cognitive flexibility

*Lack of emotional support in the home environment

*Occasionally active suicidal ideation that requires consistent emotional support and monitoring of risk

*Poor to fair motivation for eating disorder recovery

Inpatient treatment: 

*Medical instability as indicated by lab work and vital signs requiring immediate intervention

*Severe preoccupation with food, body image and/or exercise with little to no cognitive flexibility

*Suicidality with high lethality or intent

*Complete refusal of food intake

*Poor motivation and in need of intensive 24/7 supervision to prevent behavior use

To sort through all of this with one of our ED psychotherapists, you can request an eating disorder consultation.