CAMHS Eating Disorders Service National Services
Transcription
CAMHS Eating Disorders Service National Services
National Services CAMHS Eating Disorders Service A national and specialist service providing expert assessment and treatment for young people with eating disorders. South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust » What helped me was my determination to succeed and find the girl I used to be. The intensive treatment programme took me away from all I knew, but it brought back the most important part of me that was hiding – happiness. « Kerry Cover illustration by a young person from the intensive treatment programme, 2011 2 CAMHS National and Specialist Services: Eating Disorders Service Contents Service overview 4 Our philosophy 5 Who is our service for? 6 Interventions 8 Our care pathway 12 Outcomes 14 Our facilities 16 Training and consultancy 17 Our team 18 Case studies 22 Referring to our service 26 3 South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Service overview We provide assessment and treatment for young people with eating disorders and their families, using a number of innovative and empirically sound methods. We have specialist knowledge of eating disorders, with expertise in both individual and family therapy. Our service is nationally and internationally renowned for clinical and research evaluation of psychological treatments for eating disorders. Findings from our studies are frequently quoted as providing the principal evidence for the effectiveness of family therapy for adolescent anorexia nervosa. Our treatment is provided on an outpatient basis and includes a range of therapies. We have developed an intensive multi-family therapy (MFT), for which we received the 2004 Positive Practice Award from the National Institute for Mental Health in England. We recently developed a new intensive treatment programme (ITP) which offers a timelimited day service for young people with anorexia nervosa. King’s Health Partners Our service is part of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Clinical Academic Group. SLaM has joined with King’s College London, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, and King’s College NHS Foundation Trust to establish King’s Health Partners, an Academic Health Sciences Centre. King’s Health Partners involves bringing clinical care, research and education much more closely together. Our aim is to reduce the time it takes for research discoveries and medical breakthroughs to become routine clinical practice. This will lead to better care and treatment for patients. Visit www.kingshealthpartners.org for more information. 4 CAMHS National and Specialist Services: Eating Disorders Service Our philosophy We help young people and their families explore the nature of the eating disorder and its impact on their lives. Our goal is to work collaboratively with young people and their families, to empower them to reclaim their lives from the eating disorder. Our clinical experience is supported by research findings that show a full recovery is possible. » Anorexia is a demon but now I feel I have control over it, not it over me. « Amanda 5 South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Who is our service for? We offer services to young people and their families where it is suspected that the young person has an eating disorder. Our service is able to respond rapidly to new referrals, usually within two weeks, or faster in very urgent cases. Eligibility ›› Up to 18 years ›› Male or female ›› Suspected diagnosis of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, food refusal, extreme faddism, atypical conditions, or an eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS), including patients on paediatric, medical or adolescent mental health wards, as long as they are medically stable to commence outpatient treatment Exclusion ›› 98th centile, equivalent to BMI >30 in adults » With your encouragement I have been able to challenge myself further and do things I previously wouldn’t have done. « Sam 6 CAMHS National and Specialist Services: Eating Disorders Service 7 South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Interventions Our interventions are designed to address a broad range of difficulties faced by the young people admitted to our service and their families. Our approach includes psychological interventions using systemic ideas with both the young person and their family. Systemic therapy draws on and integrates a range of approaches, paying explicit attention to issues of individual and family development, culture, ethnicity, gender and wider familial and societal contexts. We also offer information about the physical effects of the eating disorder (psychoeducation), advice on behavioural management, as well as the use of meal planning and dietetic support. Family therapy Our treatment model places a strong emphasis on working closely with families, helping them to rediscover their strengths and finding ways to overcome their child’s illness. Therapy often starts on a weekly basis, although this can be reduced or increased according to need. Treatment lasts between nine months and one year, and in most cases young people are discharged with minimal symptoms. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) Young people with bulimia nervosa or binge eating disorders may be treated with CBT, adapted as needed to suit their age, circumstances and level of development. The young person is also encouraged to follow an evidence-based, self-help programme with the support of staff. 8 Physical health monitoring We emphasise the importance of close physical monitoring including weight and height, bloods, hormones, heart (ECG) and bone density (DEXA bone scans). We continually assess the physical risk induced by the eating disorder. Our paediatric consultant provides regular paediatric monitoring and consultation. If there is deterioration during treatment, or the treatment does not lead to any significant improvement or is deemed to take a long period of time, then more intensive forms of treatment are implemented. Multi-family therapy The intensive MFT for anorexia nervosa is a four-day intensive programme for a group of up to seven families. This is followed by six follow-up days, over 12 months and combined with individual sessions with the family as needed. Feedback from families has been very positive, with many emphasising the collaborative nature of the treatment. The high user satisfaction is reflected in a drop-out rate of less than three per cent. Following the success of MFT for anorexia nervosa, we are piloting an exciting new multi-family programme for young people with bulimia nervosa or atypical bulimia nervosa and their families. CAMHS National and Specialist Services: Eating Disorders Service » I believe the intensive treatment programme has changed my daughter’s life. She now has a far better relationship with food. « Father The bulimia nervosa programme is a 20-week course for a group of up to eight families. Young people and their families meet fortnightly for group sessions, and young people meet fortnightly for individual sessions. Intensive treatment programme ITP is a seven-week programme for a small group of people with a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa or EDNOS. The programme runs from 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday, for a period of six weeks and is followed by, or preceded by MFT. ITP consists of intensive small group therapy and support at mealtimes. Education is provided on site by teaching staff. The programme aims to provide young people with skills that they can apply in everyday life. The groups include: Medication A range of medications may be used in the treatment of co-morbid conditions like depression, obsessive compulsive disorder and anxiety. Young people with bulimia nervosa are sometimes treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, which can reduce binge eating, under close medical monitoring. Assessments and second opinions We offer multidisciplinary assessments and second opinions. Where treatment is not appropriate, we provide advice and recommendations for future interventions, including the need for specialist interventions and services. ›› Anxiety, perfectionism and self-esteem groups, using CBT approaches ›› Flexible thinking groups using cognitive remediation therapy approaches ›› Managing emotions, relationships and distress using dialectical behaviour therapy approaches ›› Psychoeducation and physical health sessions ›› Relaxation, yoga, art and other creative groups ›› Food group and individual dietetic support 9 South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Our care model Medical risk management ›› Medical reviews ›› Monitoring of physical risks ›› Blood investigations ›› ECG and bone density scans ›› Liaison with inpatient and community teams Education ›› Education provided within ITP ›› Liaison with schools ›› Support to stay in mainstream education ›› Support to maintain school attendance PATIENT Intensive treatment programme ›› Meals supported by staff ›› Psychoeducation and physical health sessions ›› CBT for worry, perfectionism and self-esteem ›› Flexible thinking skills ›› Managing emotions, relationships and distress ›› Mindfulness, relaxation, yoga and art groups 10 ›› Multidisciplinary assessment and management plan ›› Intensive support helping families to take on the management and preparation of meals ›› Re-feeding and weight restoration ›› Psychoeducation on the medical and psychological implications of the illness ›› Supporting family and peer relationships, and education ›› Developing an independent life Outpatient therapies ›› Eating disorder focused family therapy ›› Individual systemic CBT ›› Multi-family therapy for anorexia and bulimia nervosa Dietetic Support ›› Assessment ›› Provision of meal plans and individual dietary counselling ›› Dietetic group support ›› Joint consultation with patient, family, dietitian and therapist CAMHS National and Specialist Services: Eating Disorders Service 11 ia lim bu 12 fa ti- ul t ne he mi rv rap ly os y a4 M Yo u pa u ng ed ns pe ia tab rso tr ic le, n is un ad m it m ed un iss ic til io all st n t y ab o le M te ce p ac d l ra er re f a 4 D fr isch om a r se ge rv ic e nt tie pa ut O N fo ine llo -m w on -u th p t en sm es ss A th ult ne era i-fa rv py m os a ily a 3 no re xi al rr fe Re ie w Re v 2 en t In pr ten og si ra ve m tr m ea e 1 tm N re ot s p se o uit nt rt ab to wi le re th fo fe re r t r co re m at m m en en da t, tio ns R fu efe nd rra in l r g ec ap ei pr ve ov d ed an d South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Our care pathway 1 2 Seven-week programme (8am to 8pm) Family and individual sessions over nine to 12 months 3 Four days (10am to 4pm), with six follow-up days over 12 months Combination of individual, separated and multi-family groups CAMHS National and Specialist Services: Eating Disorders Service 13 South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Outcomes Our team monitors the outcomes of the treatment provided in an effort to continually improve our quality of care. We actively involve young people and families in gathering data on symptoms at a number of stages throughout treatment. The measures we use include the Child Global Assessment Scale, the online Development and Well-being Assessment, eating disorders scales, quality of life and obsessive compulsive disorder scales, amongst others. The outcomes that the young person and their family can expect are: ›› Recovery or significant improvement in illness ›› Improved psychological and psychosocial functioning ›› Improved well-being Graph 1 shows the changes in weight during the course of outpatient family therapy and long-term follow-up for adolescent anorexia nervosa. Graph 2 shows the percentage of patients reaching a normal weight at the end of treatment in single family and multifamily therapy, for adolescent anorexia nervosa. 100 90 80 70 TREATMENT FOLLOW-UP 5 YEARS 1 YEAR 14 PERCENTAGE WEIGHT, ADJUSTED FOR HEIGHT, AGE AND SEX 6 MONTHS 3 MONTHS ASSESSMENT Graph 3 shows the changes in bingeing and vomiting during treatment and follow-up for adolescent bulimia nervosa. 1.Adolescent anorexia nervosa: changes in weight during family therapy CAMHS National and Specialist Services: Eating Disorders Service » We were so relieved when the service got involved. We thought we were going to lose our daughter. « Mother 2. Adolescent anorexia nervosa: percentage of patients reaching a normal weight after single family and multi-family therapy 3. Adolescent bulimia nervosa: changes in bingeing and vomiting NUMBER OF EPISODES PER WEEK OVER THE PREVIOUS 28 DAYS PERCENTAGE 100 6 5 4 TREATMENT FOLLOW-UP 3 2 1 BINGE-EATING 10 9 8 7 80 60 40 20 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 0 SINGLE FAMILY THERAPY MULTI-FAMILY THERAPY VOMITING 0 2 4 6 8 10 Family therapy (N=41) Guided self-care (N=44) 15 South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Our facilities Our service is based in the Michael Rutter Centre at the Maudsley Hospital and is designed around the needs of young people and their families or carers. Our clinic has both individual and group therapy rooms that are equipped with observational and audiovisual equipment to help with treatment, enable training and learning opportunities, and to ensure good clinical outcomes by allowing close supervision of therapists. This also enables team consultation and input with minimal intrusion for young people and their families. » There were times when each of us found it hard, but the staff and other girls worked together. This bond and trust made you feel safe and helped to break the shield anorexia strongly holds. « Tanya 16 CAMHS National and Specialist Services: Eating Disorders Service Training and consultancy We provide training in single and multiple family therapy approaches, as well as in the treatment of eating disorders, for individuals or small groups of professionals. We also provide team outreach training for larger groups and consultations on specialist service development. Our multi-family therapy training is relevant to both clinicians working with eating disorders and those working with other mental health problems like obsessive compulsive disorder, substance misuse, depression, school refusal and psychosis. We offer follow-up consultation and ongoing supervision on multi-family therapy and single family-based treatments. We also provide consultations to clinicians, managers and commissioners wishing to develop specialist child and adolescent eating disorders services. We offer training for service managers and clinicians on the setting up and delivery of intensive day treatment programmes. For more information about training, telephone Louise Proust on 020 3228 2545 or email [email protected] 17 South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Our team Our team includes psychiatrists, psychologists, systemic family psychotherapists, nurse therapists, psychology assistants and administrators as well as medical staff, including a paediatrician and dietician. Dr Mima Simic MSc, MD, MRCPsych Joint Head of the Child and Adolescent Eating Disorders Service | Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist Dr Mima Simic is joint head of our service at the Trust, as well as a consultant psychiatrist with the Dialectical Behaviour Therapy Service. Other roles Dr Simic has been active in teaching, training and research in the United Kingdom and abroad and has been involved in multi-centric research studies on anorexia nervosa and self-harm. Background She completed her Doctor of Medicine (MD) qualifications at the University of Belgrade in the former Yugoslavia, followed by specialist training in child and adolescent psychiatry. Dr Simic retrained as a consultant psychiatrist at the Maudsley Hospital and St George’s Hospital. From 2000 to 2009, she was a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist for the community adolescent mental health service in Croydon and our service. Research Dr Simic is collaborating with Professor Ivan Eisler, Professor Ulrike Schmidt and Professor David Cottrell on research testing the outcomes and cost-effectiveness of CBT and family therapy in treating eating disorders and self-harm in adolescents. 18 CAMHS National and Specialist Services: Eating Disorders Service Professor Ivan Eisler MA, PhD, CPsychol, AcSS Joint Head of the Child and Adolescent Eating Disorders Service | Professor of Family Psychology and Family Therapy Professor Ivan Eisler is joint head of our service, as well as a professor of family psychology and family therapy at the Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London. He is also head of the section of family therapy at the Institute. Other roles Professor Eisler is a family therapy trainer and has played a key role in developing training courses in family therapy at the Institute of Psychiatry and the Institute of Family Therapy. Background Professor Eisler gained his BA and MA in philosophy and psychology at New College, Oxford in 1971, continuing on to a Diploma of Psychology at Charles University, Prague. He worked as a clinical psychologist in Prague in the school’s psychological service and in fostering and adoption up until 1982, when he moved to London and joined the clinical research team at the Institute of Psychiatry. He completed a PhD at the University of London in 1993. Professor Eisler won the Outstanding Clinician Award from the Academy for Eating Disorders in 2009 and was also the recipient of the 2011 Rosenberry Award for contributions to the fields of psychology and behavioural sciences. Research Professor Eisler has a longstanding interest in the development and evaluation of psychological treatments and a special interest in family therapy and its integration with other psychotherapies. 19 South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Our team continued Eoin Power RMN, MSc Clinical Nurse Specialist | Family Therapist Eoin is the clinical nurse specialist for our service and is responsible for the running of the intensive treatment programme (ITP) for young people with anorexia nervosa. Other roles ›› Representing child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) on the Trust’s nutrition steering group. The group meets quarterly to monitor policy, practice and procedures on all issues associated with improving the nutritional status of Trust patients ›› Involvement in the development of QED, a quality network for UK eating disorder services ›› Involvement in the quality network for inpatient child and adolescent mental health services (QNIC) Background Eoin qualified as a registered mental nurse at King’s College London in 1998. He then completed a masters in family therapy at the Institute of Psychiatry, qualifying in 2009. For two years, he worked on the Jim Birley Unit, an adult general ward at the Maudsley Hospital. He then moved to national and specialist CAMHS. During eight years on the Bethlem Adolescent Unit he worked as a staff nurse, charge nurse, deputy unit manager and family worker. Research Over the past 10 years, Eoin has championed the idea that families be closely involved in the care of their young person if he or she is a resident on an inpatient unit. He has promoted skills and confidence development among staff working with the families of young people and has conducted research that explores the experiences and strengths of young people and their parents or carers. 20 CAMHS National and Specialist Services: Eating Disorders Service Gladys Ellis RMN, MSc in Systemic Family Psychotherapy Senior Systematic Family Psychotherapist | Team Co-ordinator Gladys is a senior systemic family psychotherapist and team co-ordinator for our service. As well as working directly with children and adolescents with eating disorders, she is involved in family and multifamily therapy. Other roles She is a placement supervisor for the masters in family therapy course at the Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London. Background Gladys started her career as a mental health nurse, working with inpatient and outpatient services in West London (Paddington and Notting Hill), North London (Central Middlesex and Shenely) and East London (Newham). She also worked in day hospitals and the voluntary sector with the post-adoption service in Kentish Town. Gladys qualified as a systemic family psychotherapist in 1998 and worked for six years in Greenwich child and adolescent mental health services, before joining the Trust to specialise in eating disorders. She was a guest speaker at ANASA, the first national Greek conference on eating disorders in September 2009. Research Gladys’ current research interests relate to working in a multi-family therapeutic way with families affected by bulimia. Previously, Gladys was involved with a five-year randomisedcontrolled trial, the multi-centre treatment of anorexia nervosa in adolescents. 21 South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Leanne (mother of Christina) “The anorexia hit suddenly...wham!” Christina seemed well over Christmas 2008, but by Easter she’d become noticeably thinner. In the two to three months afterwards she stopped eating almost completely, eating only small amounts of fruit and veg. Two months after Easter, when out shopping for a dress, I saw her in the changing rooms and she was so much thinner, shockingly so, that I burst into tears. Her bones stuck out so much. Soon after that, a friend, teacher and her boyfriend spoke to her and she agreed to see our GP, who was great. She saw our GP a few times in a few weeks and then was referred to the Eating Disorders Service. By this time I knew something was seriously wrong. “It was shocking, shocking, shocking.” In a matter of six weeks, there we were at the Michael Rutter Centre. I remember Christina cuddling up to me saying ‘could I really have an eating disorder’? We were both in tears. When Christina was told she had anorexia, she was absolutely horrified. As well as the diagnosis, she had holidays booked – a few days at Glastonbury, Spain and a family holiday – and the service told her she was too ill to go. She was extremely distressed and angry. We were given a meal plan at our first trip to the service, and came home reeling. It felt awful for professionals to tell us our darling daughter was anorexic, even though we sort of already knew. Things were pretty stark at that moment. 22 “There’s no greater pain than seeing your child in pain.” When we got home, she started on the meal plan straight away – it didn’t really occur to her not to. She didn’t go to Spain, but she did go to Glastonbury for a day. We also went on the family holiday, but that was a disaster. Extremely slow eating was the form the anorexia took for Christina. She would spend literally 13 hours each day eating. She needed so much support to eat. Either I, her dad, brother, or one of two close family friends, sat with her and encouraged her through those very long hours. It was an endurance feat for us all, physically, mentally and emotionally. Christina became extremely depressed too. At times she was really out of reach and I’d often find her curled up silently in a ball. Of course, it’s extremely distressing seeing your daughter like that. One of our aims was to keep her at home rather than on an inpatient ward, and we managed that, but by the end of November we were all desperate. “Multi-family therapy was where things changed.” Christina started antidepressants, which definitely helped a bit, but she didn’t really have anything else to her life except the long hours spent eating. How she ate had become more ritualised. One day, she said she couldn’t eat the cheese in front of her, as it would make her fat, and her brother said to her ‘it won’t make you fat, it’ll CAMHS National and Specialist Services: Eating Disorders Service make you better’. Christina burst into tears and took what he said to heart. We started multi-family group therapy, which was four or five intensive days in one week, with six other families plus some additional days that would be spread over the next year. To be honest, I didn’t want to start this type of therapy because I felt like I could barely stand our own pain, never mind anyone else’s. But I also knew we really couldn’t carry on the way we were going. The activities at the multi-family therapy were hard at times, but very interesting. “Christina had to show how she wanted things to be in a year’s time.” Two activities, in particular, were really good. First, she had to choose people from the group and arrange them to represent members of our family, including one person as anorexia. She then had to rearrange everyone to show how she wanted things to be in a year’s time. It was very emotional, but helpful because it somehow brought into contrast how she might get better. The enactments for other people were intense too. I remember one girl didn’t survive in her imagined future – anorexia won – and that was really tough to watch. The second exercise was a timeline Christina had to create, drawing a line from the current time up until a year ahead. We were filling gaps between where we were right then and her starting university, and I think that’s when she realised if she really wanted to get better in time to go to university nine months later, she had to start straight away. “Her meal times reduced from 13 hours to half an hour.” At the end of the multi-family therapy week, Christina said she was going to try and eat normally straight away, that evening, even though she would need lots of help. And she did it. I had to feed her at first. It was so hard, she’d get clammy and have panic attacks, but straight away her meals reduced from 13 hours to half an hour. Since then, things have been steadily progressing, and are now, a year later, really good. She got up to a healthy weight in about five months and, wonderfully, she was able to take a three-month gap year trip, something unthinkable before multi-family therapy. She is still recovering emotionally and still has to fight anorexic thinking sometimes, but physically she’s well. “I’m thrilled she’s got her life back now.” Anorexia was extremely distressing for us because it pervaded everything. It was really isolating, like we were in a bubble of pain. It’s hell, as a mother, to see something like this happening to your daughter. But I’m thrilled Christina’s got her life back now. She has just started university and is well and happy. I’m so thankful to be largely free of the anorexia. The clinicians at the Maudsley were superb all along. For us, anorexia hit hard and fast but we got help fast too. I’m sure that’s contributed to Christina getting better relatively quickly. I’m immensely thankful for that. 23 South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Christina “I don’t know when I started losing weight.” I remember my best friend and one of my teachers telling me I had lost weight a couple of weeks after Easter. Then when I went shopping with my mum, she just burst into tears when she saw me in a bikini. Other friends said things, but I ignored them. My friend and teacher mentioned it again on the last day of school, but it wasn’t until my boyfriend said that I’d lost a lot of weight that I agreed to go and see a doctor. I could see I’d lost a bit because my clothes were baggier on me. I realised I’d been cutting back. “I was surprised when she said I should go to the eating disorders clinic.” The first time I went to the doctor I told her I thought I was ‘getting a bit funny about food’, but only because that’s what other people were telling me. I saw her three times and on every visit I’d lost weight – one or two kilogrammes a week. Looking back, I was eating next to nothing, but at the time I didn’t know how I could still be losing weight because I’d been really really trying to eat more. I was surprised when she said I should go to the Eating Disorders Service. I don’t think I knew what it meant because it’s nearly impossible to imagine a clinic when you haven’t been to one before. I think I thought they’d just weigh me, like at some kind of drop-in place. Still, I didn’t think it was a big deal. 24 “I was so angry when they told me I had anorexia.” I went to the Michael Rutter Centre at the Maudsley Hospital with my parents for some tests. My heart rate was low, and I was unhealthy in other ways too; my blood pressure, and stuff. Apart from the diagnosis, they told me I couldn’t go on holiday or to Glastonbury. I was so angry. When they handed over my meal plan, I couldn’t even look at them. It’s a shock when someone tells you you’re ill, obviously, but this was surreal. In a way, I didn’t really know what they were talking about. I was someone who loved chocolate and fry ups. For the first week they gave me a milk-based eating plan. That wasn’t much fun, but I did it…I ate everything. I wanted to go to Glastonbury and I wanted to prove that I didn’t have a problem. I did go to Glastonbury for one night, but I was so run down and tired that I didn’t enjoy it much. “I would eat really slowly. One meal would spread over 12 hours, which was pretty rubbish.” I was on a meal plan where I’d weigh out my food and eat things like flax. I was also seeing someone at the service to talk about food, but things started getting worse. My 18th birthday was a good day, but things went downhill after that. I was eating lots of vegetables and drinking lots of water and meals just got slower and CAMHS National and Specialist Services: Eating Disorders Service slower. We had a rubbish holiday in Turkey. My weight wasn’t going up – it was probably going down actually – I was depressed, and I just didn’t want to see anyone or do anything. My life got taken over with eating all day, every day. There were a lot of tears, and my family helped me a lot. I refused to eat if someone wasn’t with me, so I guess they had no choice. Antidepressants helped a bit because they gave me energy to eat a little more, but things didn’t really change until the multi-family therapy. “I knew that my family wouldn’t be able to live like this forever.” At first I didn’t want to do it because it sounded kind of horrific, talking about our problems with others. Something had to give though, and I felt things couldn’t get worse. It was four or five intensive days of therapy in a row. On the last day we had to make a timeline of the next 12 months. The first thing I put on was going to university, in just under a year. I realised that if I didn’t do something about my eating straight away I wouldn’t be able to go. Also, I could see that the other people in the group were really ill…and it made me realise how ill I was. The multi-family therapy was the real turning point. “Eating faster was so hard. The hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.” I decided at the multi-family therapy to start eating at a normal pace, from that night. It was difficult and I was terrified. Eating slowly was my life…that’s what I did. Mum had to feed me at first, but after two weeks it was a bit easier. At Christmas, I still weighed my food, but I ate it myself at the same speed as the others. After New Year, we all sat down together to work out what I had to do to make sure I would get well enough to go to university. We looked at all the rules I had in my head when I was eating and each week I’d pick things to challenge myself so I could keep up the momentum. I was eating faster and the sky hadn’t fallen in, so I knew a pie or a cheese sandwich wouldn’t be the end of the world. “I’m excited about university. It’s a fresh start.” Since then, I’ve started seeing a CBT therapist, who’s been great. I’ve also seen a dietician to help me re-learn what you’re meant to eat and how – my view of food was so screwed up. It’s been hard but definitely worth it. I’m a lot happier now. Recently I went travelling for three months and that was amazing! I mean, how could I have gone to a place like China before? It would have been impossible. After all that’s happened, I feel like I’ve got my life back. Eating is still hard sometimes, and sitting at the dinner table at home can remind me of those difficult times, but I’d rather be who I am now than someone who doesn’t eat. I even enjoy food sometimes. Chocolate, peas and cereal, they’re my favourites!! 25 South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Referring to our service Referrals are accepted from consultant psychiatrists, GPs and GP consortia. A2 02 Ca m be rw ell Ne Camberwell Green w R oa d A20 l Chur c h St re e t ov e Wr La en ne Rd Tel: 020 3228 2545 Fax: 020 3228 5011 [email protected] 2 Ca m b e rwel Gr A215 D e n m a r k H i l l Eating Disorders Service Michael Rutter Centre Maudsley Hospital Denmark Hill London SE5 8AZ Da ne ll vi e Ro ad L o v e Walk G ro sp ig ny Par k Maudsley Hospital ma d rk ian Rd t co mb eR d Be ss e em l et H il Cu n Ve rR d nd Wi King’s College Hospital A22 26 ane ne ve L re eC D en d tR tR co Ba n ve D A215 7 a La lde 21 ldh ur Ca A2 Co o rb 16 Cha m sor lk Wa Denmark Hill Rail ark nP pio www.national.slam.nhs.uk It’s easier than ever to find out more about our national services. ›› Make secure online referrals ›› Access detailed information about each of our national and specialist services, including service contact details ›› View care options, interventions, outcomes and costs ›› Read profiles of our experts ›› Catch up on our latest research ›› Discover the experiences of people who have used our services ›› Sign up for our e-newsletter Offering over 50 national and specialist services for adults and children, accepting referrals from across the United Kingdom. Visit www.national.slam.nhs.uk today. Printed on Soporset by Crucial Colour Photography: davidhares.com Design: piersanddominic.com Published: October 2011 Eating Disorders Service Michael Rutter Centre Maudsley Hospital Denmark Hill London SE5 8AZ www.national.slam.nhs.uk/camhs-eatingdisorders » Here at the Maudsley Hospital, we are at the forefront of developing family-based treatments for children and young people with eating disorders. « Dr Mima Simic