Evidence of effectiveness of specialist supportive clinical management for anorexia nervosa in routine clinical practice: Outcomes from a clinical case series

Abstract

Objective: This study provides a preliminary report on the effectiveness of Specialist Supportive Clinical Management (SSCM) in a clinical case series of adults with anorexia nervosa, to supplement evidence of efficacy from controlled trials. Method: Body mass index (BMI), eating disorder symptoms, mood and anxiety were measured at the start and end of treatment for 42 adults who received SSCM in a community eating disorders service. Results: Significant improvements were observed on all outcome measures, with larger effect sizes for symptom change than BMI. Recovery rates appear similar to those in clinical trials. Discussion: The study offers preliminary support for the effectiveness of SSCM in routine settings and identifies several areas for further research.