Web-based intensive therapeutic contact for eating disorders

摘要

Although many people suffer from eating disorders, which have high mortality and severe morbidity, only a small number of affected people in the Netherlands are treated by mental health professionals. Eating disorders are often not recognized. Many patients do not ask for help because of shame, a lack of awareness, or denial of the disorder. Even when the disorder is recognized, it is difficult to motivate patients to seek help. As a result, many patients are in urgent need of help.To reach and treat more patients with eating disorders, Tactus Addiction Treatment developed a Web-based treatment program that uses intensive therapeutic contact. Such a program has already been shown to be a suitable medium for effective interventions for patients with alcohol abuse, depression, and anxiety disorders. Various interventions for patients with eating disorders are available online, but they primarily consist of guided self-help interventions.