Improving Adult Inpatient Eating Disorder Treatment: Perspectives of Canadians with Lived Experience

Abstract

Eating disorders (EDs) are experienced by approximately one million Canadians and represent the greatest mortality rate of all mental illnesses. Despite this, adult inpatient eating disorder (ED) treatment remains unstructured, inaccessible, and inadequate in supporting Canadians who require care. The purpose of this study was to determine how the processes associated with adult inpatient ED treatment can be improved to better serve Canadians who require care from the perspectives of those with lived referral and/or participation experience. Eleven participants were interviewed regarding their perspectives, beliefs, and opinions towards referral processes, transitions into and out of treatment, and treatment itself. This study identified participant-informed recommendations for the improvement of adult inpatient ED treatment in Canada, and the processes associated with it. It is evident, from this research, that current treatment processes must change and people with lived experience have meaningful insight on how this should be done.