A recent study has shed light on the effectiveness of collaborative care digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) in addressing eating disorder symptoms among adolescents. The research involved an analysis of 689 adolescents aged 13 to 17 who engaged in mental health care with Bend Health between January 1st, 2023, and October 1st, 2023.
Results indicated that 61.4% of adolescents exhibiting disordered eating behaviors at the baseline experienced significant improvements after a median of 2.23 months in care. The study found that extended durations of care correlated with more substantial enhancements in disordered eating behaviors. Notably, 95.9% of adolescents with eating disorder symptoms participated in care programs targeting comorbid mental health disorders, particularly anxiety and depression.
Dr. Monika Roots, Co-founder and President at Bend Health, expressed the transformative impact of compassionate and collaborative mental health care, emphasizing the importance of making such solutions accessible to foster the well-being of teenagers and resilient families.
To assess eating behaviors, participants completed the SCOFF, a validated questionnaire featuring five questions about disordered eating behaviors. The study categorized participants based on their SCOFF scores, with 75.5% having nonelevated scores and 24.5% having elevated scores. The findings highlighted the potential overlap between disordered eating behaviors and internalizing problems like anxiety and depression, suggesting the need for similar treatment approaches.
The study contributes to the growing body of literature supporting the idea that addressing disordered eating behaviors and associated internalizing problems may share common underlying constructs, warranting a holistic treatment approach.
This research aligns with our February theme on Eating Disorders, featuring expert discussions on identifying, treating, and managing prevalent eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder.
