Vol 32 (7):509-514
GPs managing patients with eating disorders: A tiered approach
Peta Marks, RN, BN, MPH, is Eating Disorder Coordinator, New South Wales Centre for Mental Health, New South Wales.
Pierre Beumont, AM, MBChB, MPhil, MSc, FRCP, FRACP, FRCPsych, FRANZCP, DPM, is Professor of Psychiatry and Honorary Professor of Psychology, Department of Psychological Medicine, The University of Sydney, New South Wales.
C Laird Birmingham, MD, MHSc, FRCPC, FACP, ABIM, is Professor of Medicine, British Columbia Provincial Director of Eating Disorders, and Medical Director, Eating Disorder Program, the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
BACKGROUND General practitioners take on varying levels of responsibility for patients who have eating disorders. Roles appear to be tiered, from simply identifying illness and referring the patient on, to acting as care coordinator, providing medical and psychological treatment and/or continuing care.
OBJECTIVE Every GP has some level of responsibility toward this patient group. This article aims to identify the various levels of intervention and roles GPs may take and to provide practitioners with options regarding their level of clinical involvement.
DISCUSSION Just what role GPs choose to take in the management of patients with eating disorders depends on many factors including the stage of the patient’s illness, and the doctor’s interest, knowledge and clinical skills in this area of practice.
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