Regular Article

Navigating the transition from pediatric to adult eating disorder programs: Perspectives of service providers

  1. Gina Dimitropoulos MSW, PhD1,2,*,
  2. Angela Faith Tran BSc (Hons)2,
  3. Payal Agarwal MD3,
  4. Brandon Sheffield MD4,
  5. Blake Woodside MD, FRCPC1,5

Article first published online: 19 MAR 2012

DOI: 10.1002/eat.22017

Issue

International Journal of Eating Disorders

International Journal of Eating Disorders

Volume 45, Issue 6, pages 759–767, September 2012

Additional Information

How to Cite

Dimitropoulos, G., Tran, A. F., Agarwal, P., Sheffield, B. and Woodside, B. (2012), Navigating the transition from pediatric to adult eating disorder programs: Perspectives of service providers. Int. J. Eat. Disord., 45: 759–767. doi: 10.1002/eat.22017

Author Information

  1. 1

    Eating Disorders Program, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada

  2. 2

    Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

  3. 3

    Department of Family Medicine, Toronto East General Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada

  4. 4

    Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada

  5. 5

    Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

*Eating Disorders Program, Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, 200 Elizabeth Street, Toronto, Ontario M5G 2C4

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 7 AUG 2012
  2. Article first published online: 19 MAR 2012
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 14 FEB 2012

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Keywords:

  • anorexia nervosa;
  • service transition;
  • adolescents and families

Abstract

Objective:

This study aims to conduct qualitative research on the perspectives of service providers regarding the transition process from pediatric to adult specialized eating disorder tertiary care programs.

Method:

Two focus groups with a diverse group of clinicians in pediatric and adult eating disorder programs and five qualitative interviews with clinicians in the community were conducted.

Results:

Three themes were identified as challenges during the transition process: (1) illness related factors (ambivalence and denial); (2) the interruption of normative adolescent developmental processes by the illness; and, (3) the impact of decreased parental involvement in the adult compared to pediatric eating disorder programs.

Discussion:

These themes were compared with empirical evidence on other chronic mental or physical health concerns for the purpose of identifying ways to facilitate a more successful service transition for young adults with anorexia nervosa. Future research and clinical implications are delineated. © 2012 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2012; 45:759–767)

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (107K)