The effect of eating disorders and trauma day treatment in women with eating disorders and childhood maltreatment history: A pilot study

Background: ‘Women with eating disorders (EDs) and a history of childhood maltreatment (CM) tend to have more psychiatric comorbidities including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Complex PTSD (CPTSD) and a worse prognosis than women with EDs without CM. Yet research on treatment of comorbidity of EDs and PTSD/CPTSD symptoms due to CM is scarce. Objective: We assessed the effectiveness of a day program for women with EDs and CM history on symptoms of EDs, PTSD, CPTSD and dissociation. Participants and setting: The 3 month, four-days-a-week program which operates in a single tertiary mental health center, provides weekly individual (psychiatric, psychotherapeutic, dietician, Eye Movement Desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)) and group therapies, and 2 daily observed meals for adult women diagnosed with EDs and CM history. Methods: Participants self-reported before treatment, (n = 53; T1), after treatment (n = 36; T2) and at six-month follow up (n = 22, T3) on EDs, CM, PTSD/CPTSD and dissociation. PTSD was also assessed via interview (CAPS-5). Results: Significant improvement in measures of EDs, PTSD and CPTSD were observed, regardless of CM exposure. Conclusions: Women with EDs and CM, who generally have a poor prognosis, can be significantly helped by integrated treatment for EDs and trauma.