Enhancing assessment for eating disorders: the impact of a podcast-based pre-treatment psychoeducation intervention

This study reports the outcome of a low intensity pre-treatment intervention (a guided e-health podcast) for patients with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, delivered between assessment and the start of the full outpatient treatment programme. A case series design was used. A total of 254 patients at a specialist eating disorder service were offered a pre-treatment three-week psychoeducational intervention (Keeping Myself Safe; KMS), and 203 undertook the intervention. The intervention consisted of six podcasts (107 mins), an accompanying workbook, and a follow-up review appointment. Body Mass Index and Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire scores were taken at assessment, end of the KMS intervention (mean duration = 21.9 days) and start of treatment (mean = 79.8 days post KMS intervention). Generalised Linear Mixed Models were used to test main and interaction effects (diagnosis x time). There were improvements on most variables following the KMS intervention. The effects were more pronounced for patients with bulimia nervosa across several measures. Pre-treatment guided e-health psychoeducational interventions can be associated with early attitudinal and behavioural change in patients with bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa whilst on the waiting list for treatment. They allow greater, affordable accessibility to effective psychoeducation and enhance potential engagement. More research is required to investigate the longer-term impact on retention and outcome, particularly in anorexia nervosa.