Cork service saw spike in eating disorder referrals during covid pandemic

A Cork-based eating disorder service for young people saw referrals peak during the covid-19 pandemic, new Health Research Board (HRB) data has found.

The study shows the growing demand for eating disorder services in both inpatient and community settings, and the authors highlighted the need for further services.

Lead author, Harriet Lovett, said: “The findings show a significant demand for enhanced community and inpatient services that ensure timely and effective treatment for children and adolescents affected by eating disorders.”

The recently published HRB report collated referral, assessment, and treatment activity from two services, one of which was Cork-based Child and Adolescent Regional Eating Disorder Service (CAREDS).

CAREDS is an outpatient service based in Cork for young people who have an eating disorder in Cork and Kerry.

From the 183 cases opened at the service from May 2019 to 2022, anorexia nervosa was the most common diagnosis of open cases, representing 138 — 75% — of CAREDS cases, with other diagnoses including bulimia and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder.

The study found that CAREDS received more than half of its referrals directly from general practitioners, and 84% of the total referrals were accepted.

Overall, there were 34 CAREDS referrals from May to December 2019. There were 87 in total in 2020, 163 in 2021, and 117 in 2022.

From the more than 400 total referrals, 216 came from a GP, 29 from acute hospitals, and 11 from inpatient psychiatry teams.

Of these 401 referrals, 203 assessments were completed, and 183 cases were opened as a result. Open cases refer to the number of patients in receipt of eating disorder services following assessment and diagnosis.

The report notes that a proportion of children and adolescents experiencing severe eating disorders may become malnourished and require a brief period of medical stabilisation in an acute medical hospital, and a smaller proportion may require an admission to a psychiatric inpatient hospital.

Ten of the CAREDS cases were admitted to inpatient psychiatrists, while 34 were admitted to an acute medical hospital.

The report collated referral, assessment, and treatment activity from 2018 to 2022 in Linn Dara Community Eating Disorder Service in Dublin; and from May 2019 to 2022 in CAREDS for the Cork and Kerry region.

Over the period examined, there were 902 referrals to the two specialist teams, with 45% of these being to the CAREDS team.

The data showed a peak in the number of referrals and assessments observed in 2021.

Nationally, there was a 121% increase in the number of inpatient admissions with an eating disorder diagnosis over the full study period, with a peak of 538 hospital admissions in 2021.