ORCID

0000-0002-9983-8545

Keywords

eating disorders, clinical practice guidelines, person-centered care, best practices, psychiatric treatment, exploratory sequential mixed methods

Abstract

Eating disorders are among the deadliest mental health disorders and represent a significant financial burden to the U.S. healthcare system. However, little is known about eating disorder patients' experiences during psychiatric treatment. Informed by the Picker Principles of Person-Centered Care and recommendations from the American Psychiatric Association, this study explored eating disorder patient experiences with best practices during psychiatric treatment. First, 10 patients were interviewed about their treatment experiences with a psychiatrist. Themes were analyzed using iterative categorization in Dedoose and informed a quantitative survey to examine patient experiences with their psychiatrist performing best practices during eating disorder treatment. The survey was completed by 226 eating disorder patients on the Prolific platform. Results were analyzed in SAS using descriptive statistics and logistic regression. Qualitative themes included fear related to seeking care, experiences with assessment and diagnosis, involvement in decision-making, collaborative care, the importance of their psychiatrist’s qualities, and satisfaction with treatment outcomes. Non-White patients were more likely than White patients to report receiving a referral to a nutritionist or dietitian (p<0.0001), their psychiatrist collaborating with other health professionals (p=0.0081), being prescribed a medication (p=0.0039), and experiencing psychotherapy (p=0.0087). Males were more likely than females to report being prescribed a medication (p=0.0471). Eating disorder type was associated with being prescribed a medication (p=0.0280). Patients treated in the non-outpatient setting (p=0.0027) and via a telemedicine platform (p=0.0063) were also more likely to be prescribed medication. Results from this study may indicate disparities in eating disorder treatment experiences, and findings could be used to inform interventions, like credentialing, to improve psychiatrists’ use of best practices and engagement in interdisciplinary, person-centered care for eating disorder patients.

Completion Date

2025

Semester

Spring

Committee Chair

Andraka-Christou, Barbara

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

College

College of Community Innovation and Education

Department

School of Public Administration

Identifier

DP0029294

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

Campus Location

UCF Downtown

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