Occupational Therapy News OTnews February 2020 | Page 32

FEATURE EATING DISORDERS The experience of facilitating the group indicated that strengths included: positive engagement from patients; reduced compulsive exercise behaviours on the ward; improvements in mood; and flexibility with meal plan engagement. Patients were also more independent with their time use and daily routines on the ward, as well as being more engaged with forward planning for discharge and being able to continue the practical element following hospital discharge. Interestingly, there was also a reduction in patients engaging in self-harming, when they presented with co-morbid conditions, such as Borderline Personality Disorder. Limitations to the group programme included: limited number of patients reaching the recommended BMI to engage in the group prior to discharge; patients discharging part-way through the group; the impact of There is a gap within eating disorders treatment addressing exercise as a normal daily activity. The key role of occupational therapists is to restore and maintain function by engaging in meaningful occupations. Incorporating an exercise plan, which involves strength, cardiovascular, flexibility, and educational components, is key in assisting in the participants’ recovery to being a healthy adult. References Calogero R and Pedrotty K (2004) The practice and process of healthy exercise: An Investigation of the treatment of exercise abuse in women with eating disorders. Eating Disorders, 12(4): 273-291 Cook B, Wonderlich S, Mitchell J, Thompson R, Sherman R and McCallum K (2016) Exercise in eating disorders treatment. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, anorexic thinking and the ability to engage in a snack 48(7): 1408-1414 following activity; patients appearing too ambitious Danielsen M, Rø Ø and Bjørnelv S (2018) How to integrate at the offset; and patients’ energy levels varying, physical activity and exercise approaches into inpatient depending on medication, sleep and nutrition. treatment for eating disorders: fifteen years of As well as these, a clinical experience and research. Journal lack of compliance with of Eating Disorders, 6(1) Yoga and the meal plan, frequent Hart EA, Leary MR and Rejeski WJ daily walks are already part weekend passes and (1989) The measurement of other ward commitments social physique anxiety. of the eating disorder treatment also restricted some patients’ Journal of Sport and ‘‘ embedded within the group programme. Adding in a gym and/or swimming session each week supported the evidence of including strength training into an exercise programme. Exercise Psychology, 11: 94-104 Morris J and Twaddle S (2007) Anorexia nervosa. BMJ, 334(7599): 894- 898 Ng L, Ng D and Wong W (2013) Is supervised exercise training safe in patients with anorexia nervosa? A meta-analysis. Physiotherapy, 99(1): 1-11 ability to attend the group each week. However, despite the limitations, I believe the role of occupational therapy is vital to facilitate the delivery of such a service service. Taranis L, Meyer C, Touyz S, Arcelus J, La Puma M (2011) Loughborough Eating Disorders Activity Programme ‘LEAP’. Individual cognitive-behavioural therapy for compulsive exercise in the eating disorders: therapist manual. Loughborough: Loughborough University Centre for Research into Eating Disorders (LUCRED) Chloe Findlay, occupational therapist, Priory Glasgow. The author would be keen to hear from others with similar experiences, email: chloefindlay@ priorygroup.com or [email protected] 32 OTnews February 2020 © GettyImages/mediaphotos