Note: In this blog we discuss both clinical and subclinical eating disorders.
Clinical eating disorder: refers to an eating disorder which is severe enough to be formally diagnosed. Some examples may include anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa.
Subclinical eating disorder: refers to eating disorders which are not considered “severe” enough to be formally diagnosed as an eating disorder. This does not mean subclinical eating disorders are any less harmful. Individuals with subclinical eating disorders endure many distressing symptoms and deserve the same care as those with clinical eating disorders.
The Multidisciplinary Care Team in Eating Disorder Recovery
Clinical and subclinical eating disorders are multifaceted. They can be defined as “psychiatric disorders with medical and nutritional complications”. From this definition, we can see three key facets that need care and attention: psychiatry, medicine, and nutrition. Research shows that eating disorders are best treated by a team of professionals from the areas mentioned above. Together, these professionals make up a patient’s multidisciplinary care team.
An eating disorder cannot be treated by a physician, dietitian, or mental health professional in silo. By paying attention to only one area of the eating disorder, the other areas do not improve, which may decrease chances of a full recovery. A multidisciplinary care team works together to provide a multifaceted, holistic treatment plan for the patient. This helps to ensure the most successful outcome for the patient, as no area of the eating disorder is left untreated.
Note: There may be more medical professionals on a given team depending on the patient. Each patient’s treatment plan is individualized.
In this blog, we will unpack who makes up a multidisciplinary team, what each member’s role is, and why a multifaceted approach is so important in eating disorder care.
Who Makes Up the Eating Disorder Treatment Team?
The eating disorder care professionals on a treatment team do not work independently of each other, but instead as a collaborative team. That is, they work with one another and with the patient to develop a treatment plan. This plan is, ideally, an individualized, holistic treatment plan that addresses all areas of the eating disorder. By holistically treating the different areas of an eating disorder, the patient’s chances of recovery may increase.
Physician
The physician(s) on a multidisciplinary team may be a physician or physician’s assistant, a nurse or nurse practitioner, and/or a medical assistant. It is their job to care for the physical and medical issues related to an eating disorder. They look after the patient’s:
- Overall health
- Medical consequences of disordered eating
- Medication requirements
The physician will work with the team’s mental health professional and dietitian to evaluate, treat, and monitor the eating disorder.
Mental Health Professional
The mental health professional on a multidisciplinary team may have one or many certifications. For example, they may be certified as a Registered Psychotherapist or a Registered Clinical Therapist like the professionals at Change Creates Change. The mental health professional on the team has many responsibilities. They look after the patient’s:
- Mental health issues
- Individualized psychotherapy plan
- Symptoms and feelings around eating and food
- Coping behaviors and self-growth
Like the physician, the mental health professional will work with the other members of the treatment team to ensure the treatment plan is progressing.
Eating Disorder Dietitian Nutritionist
The registered dietitian (RD) on the team is responsible for the food and eating related factors of the eating disorder. The dietitian looks after the patient’s:
- Food and nutrition complications
- Physical symptoms (in collaboration with the physician)
- Nutritional treatment plan/meal plans
- Nutritional education
- Eating patterns and lifestyle choices
The dietitian will work collaboratively with the physician and mental health professional to promote recovery for the patient through their individualized, holistic treatment plan.
A multidisciplinary team of professionals ensures a holistic, individualized treatment plan. These plans allow for more areas of the eating disorder to be addressed. It is incredibly important that individuals with eating disorders address all parts of their eating disorder. At Change Creates Change, our multidisciplinary teams will collaborate with you to create a holistic, multifaceted treatment plan that will support you through your recovery. If you or a loved one are in need of treatment team for a clinical or subclinical eating disorder, you can book a free consultation below.
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