The Adult Eating Disorders Service

The Adult Eating Disorders Service (AEDS) is a community based program provided by London Health Sciences Centre and the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Middlesex. This service has been developed to meet the needs of adults who require treatment for anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder and other specified feeding or eating disorders. We offer a wide range of programming that includes outpatient, day treatment, residential and relapse prevention services. While our main focus is excellence in patient care, we also highly value the role of education and research for all disciplines. This committed team provides evidenced base, compassionate care in partnership with other programs at LHSC and the community.

The team includes:

Outpatient Services

Our team is pleased to offer a range of outpatient services. For many individuals with eating disorders outpatient treatment is an accessible and effective form of treatment on its own that does not require individuals to attend more intensive forms of treatment. Our outpatient services focus on providing individual outpatient treatment to individuals with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and otherwise specified feeding or eating disorders. We also offer group based treatment to individuals with binge eating disorder.

Outpatient CBT-E:

• This service involves meeting with a clinician individually once a week over 5-10 months. The factors that keep an eating disorder going will be determined and then a treatment plan will be created to systematically target these factors. Over the course of treatment patients work on normalizing their eating, enhancing their ability to cope with their emotions, addressing body image concerns, and targeting specific problematic behaviours.

Binge Eating Disorder Group:

• This is a 20 session standalone group for people with binge eating disorder that focuses on normalizing eating, enhancing emotional regulation, and learning strategies to eliminate binge eating. Individuals will learn to identify and manage triggers using skills taught in group.
  
  

Assessments

Assessment Process:

• Upon receipt of a physician’s referral to our service individuals interested in accessing services will receive an initial assessment and treatment recommendations from the program. Once your assessment has been completed, the clinical team will collaborate with you to develop a plan of care.

What to Expect During and Following Assessment:

• All assessments are completed by a clinician and are approx. 2.5 hours in length. Assessment will include a review of presenting problem(s), medical status, substance use, mood symptoms, anxiety symptoms, trauma, family and general functioning history.
• At the end of the assessment treatment options and recommendations will be discussed with you.
• Medical monitoring is provided by your current primary care professional.
• As this service is voluntary in nature, at any point you may decline further care with the option of re-engaging in services 2 months after discharge.

Day Treatment Services

Day Treatment Service (DTS):

• The DTS involves individual and group based treatment for those who who are experiencing eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and other specified feeding or eating disorders. The DTS can be accessed by residents of Ontario who are prepared to reside in the London area during treatment.
• Those attending the DTS work with a multidisciplinary team and participate in programming that follows a cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) approach. The aim of treatment is to normalize eating, reduce and stop eating disorder related behaviours, facilitate weight restoration as needed, and to improve participants’ quality of life.

What to expect:

• A typical day includes individual and group therapy with a staff supported lunch, snack, and dinner (the DTS schedule will be provided). Treatment is typically 8 to 12 weeks, followed by outpatient treatment. On non-program days, there is an expectation that the meal and activity plan developed with the team is followed and individual therapeutic goals are pursued (nutritional therapy guidelines and menu expectations will be provided). The DTS weekly program hours are listed below. A more detailed schedule will be provided at orientation.

Day Treatment Weekly Schedule:

Monday                          10:30am-6:30pm

Tuesday                         11:00am-6:30pm

Wednesday                   11:30am-6:30pm

Thursday                        11:30am-6:30pm

Friday                             11:30am-4:30pm

Costs:

• We are an OHIP funded service, which means treatment services are at no cost to you. Part of DTS programming involves social food outings once a month. Patients cover the cost of their own meals which will be approximately $25-30 a month. If you identify this as a potential barrier, please speak with one of our team members.

Eating Disorder Residence

Eating Disorder Residence (ED Res):

• The Adult Eating Disorder Service is in a partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) to provide residential treatment.
• The ED Res provides 24-hour care to individuals attending the Day Treatment Service (DTS). The ED Res collaborates with the DTS team to support patients with their therapeutic goals. Patients length of stay in the residence is determined in collaboration with the patient and the DTS team and is typically between 4 and 6 weeks.
• The residence is in a community based location and can accommodate up to 8 residents.

What to Expect:

• With the assistance of the CMHA Mental Health Workers, residents of the ED Res are responsible for fulfilling expectations related to community living while actively working on their personal treatment goals.
• Upon admission, staff will orient the patient to the expectations of the residence.

Costs:

• We are an OHIP funded service, however, personal hygiene items are not provided. There may also be some added costs for social outings. Accommodations can be made if necessary. 

Relapse Prevention Services

All of our treatments focus on relapse prevention. Risk factors for relapse are determined and individualized plans are developed to reduce the risk of relapse and deal with any set-backs that occur.

After an individual has successfully completed their eating disorder treatment, he/she would be invited to attend bi-weekly group sessions that assist in maintaining the individualized relapse prevention plan and provide an opportunity to process any identified challenges.