Understanding treatment delay: Perceived barriers preventing treatment-seeking for eating disorders.

Hamilton, A; Mitchison, D; Basten, C; Byrne, S; Goldstein, M; Hay, P; Heruc, G; Thornton, C; Touyz, S

Understanding treatment delay: Perceived barriers preventing treatment-seeking for eating disorders.

Hamilton, A Mitchison, D Basten, C Byrne, S Goldstein, M Hay, P Heruc, G Thornton, C Touyz, S

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Publisher:: SAGE Publications
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Aust N Z J Psychiatry, 2022, 56, (3), pp. 248-259
Issue Date:: 2022-03

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Hamilton, A
dc.contributor.author	Mitchison, D
dc.contributor.author	Basten, C
dc.contributor.author	Byrne, S
dc.contributor.author	Goldstein, M
dc.contributor.author	Hay, P
dc.contributor.author	Heruc, G
dc.contributor.author	Thornton, C
dc.contributor.author	Touyz, S
dc.date.accessioned	2023-05-05T02:24:30Z
dc.date.available	2023-05-05T02:24:30Z
dc.date.issued	2022-03
dc.identifier.citation	Aust N Z J Psychiatry, 2022, 56, (3), pp. 248-259
dc.identifier.issn	0004-8674
dc.identifier.issn	1440-1614
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/170220
dc.description.abstract	OBJECTIVE: Only a small proportion of individuals with an eating disorder will receive targeted treatment for their illness. The aim of this study was to examine the length of delay to treatment-seeking and determine the barriers preventing earlier access and utilisation of eating disorder treatment for each diagnostic group - anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder and other specified feeding or eating disorder. METHOD: Participants were recruited as part of the TrEAT multi-phase consortium study. One hundred and nineteen Australians (13-60 years; 96.9% female) with eating disorders currently accessing outpatient treatment for their illness completed an online survey comprised of self-report measures of eating disorder severity, treatment delay and perceived barriers to treatment-seeking. The treating clinician for each participant also provided additional information (e.g. body mass index and diagnosis). RESULTS: Overall, the average length of delay between onset of eating disorder symptoms and treatment-seeking was 5.28 years. Controlling for age, latency to treatment-seeking was significantly longer for individuals with bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder compared to anorexia nervosa. However, when perceived barriers to treatment-seeking were investigated, there were no significant differences between the diagnostic groups in regard to the perceived barriers they experienced. Stigma was rated as the most impactful barrier for each diagnostic group. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that individuals with eating disorders face substantial delays in accessing appropriate treatment and that latency to treatment-seeking is often magnified for counter-stereotypical eating disorder presentations. Further research is required to investigate other factors contributing to this delay.
dc.format	Print-Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	SAGE Publications
dc.relation.ispartof	Aust N Z J Psychiatry
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1177/00048674211020102
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.subject	11 Medical and Health Sciences, 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences
dc.subject.classification	Psychiatry
dc.subject.mesh	Anorexia Nervosa
dc.subject.mesh	Australia
dc.subject.mesh	Binge-Eating Disorder
dc.subject.mesh	Bulimia Nervosa
dc.subject.mesh	Feeding and Eating Disorders
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Male
dc.subject.mesh	Time-to-Treatment
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Anorexia Nervosa
dc.subject.mesh	Australia
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Male
dc.subject.mesh	Bulimia Nervosa
dc.subject.mesh	Binge-Eating Disorder
dc.subject.mesh	Time-to-Treatment
dc.subject.mesh	Feeding and Eating Disorders
dc.subject.mesh	Anorexia Nervosa
dc.subject.mesh	Australia
dc.subject.mesh	Binge-Eating Disorder
dc.subject.mesh	Bulimia Nervosa
dc.subject.mesh	Feeding and Eating Disorders
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Male
dc.subject.mesh	Time-to-Treatment
dc.title	Understanding treatment delay: Perceived barriers preventing treatment-seeking for eating disorders.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	56
utslib.location.activity	England
utslib.for	11 Medical and Health Sciences
utslib.for	17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Graduate School of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Graduate School of Health/GSH.Clinical Psychology
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
dc.date.updated	2023-05-05T02:24:29Z
pubs.issue	3
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	56
utslib.citation.issue	3

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: Only a small proportion of individuals with an eating disorder will receive targeted treatment for their illness. The aim of this study was to examine the length of delay to treatment-seeking and determine the barriers preventing earlier access and utilisation of eating disorder treatment for each diagnostic group - anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder and other specified feeding or eating disorder. METHOD: Participants were recruited as part of the TrEAT multi-phase consortium study. One hundred and nineteen Australians (13-60 years; 96.9% female) with eating disorders currently accessing outpatient treatment for their illness completed an online survey comprised of self-report measures of eating disorder severity, treatment delay and perceived barriers to treatment-seeking. The treating clinician for each participant also provided additional information (e.g. body mass index and diagnosis). RESULTS: Overall, the average length of delay between onset of eating disorder symptoms and treatment-seeking was 5.28 years. Controlling for age, latency to treatment-seeking was significantly longer for individuals with bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder compared to anorexia nervosa. However, when perceived barriers to treatment-seeking were investigated, there were no significant differences between the diagnostic groups in regard to the perceived barriers they experienced. Stigma was rated as the most impactful barrier for each diagnostic group. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that individuals with eating disorders face substantial delays in accessing appropriate treatment and that latency to treatment-seeking is often magnified for counter-stereotypical eating disorder presentations. Further research is required to investigate other factors contributing to this delay.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/170220