“I’m truly free from my eating disorder”: Emerging adults’ experiences of FREED, an early intervention service model and care pathway for eating disorders

Abstract

Background Eating disorders (EDs) typically start during adolescence or emerging adulthood, periods of intense biopsychosocial development. FREED (First Episode Rapid Early Intervention for EDs) is a service model and care pathway providing rapid access to developmentally-informed care for emerging adults with EDs. FREED is associated with reduced duration of untreated eating disorder and improved clinical outcomes, but patients’ experiences of treatment have yet to be assessed. Objective This study aimed to assess emerging adults’ experiences of receiving treatment through FREED. Method This study triangulated qualitative data on participants’ experiences of FREED treatment from questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Participants were 106 emerging adults (aged 16–25; illness duration < 3 yrs) (questionnaire only = 92; interview only = 6; both = 8). Data were analysed thematically. Results Most participants reported psychological and behavioural changes over the course of treatment (e.g. reduction in symptoms; increased acceptance and understanding of difficulties). Participants identified five beneficial characteristics of FREED treatment: i) rapid access to treatment; ii) knowledgeable and concerned clinicians; iii) focusing on life beyond the eating disorder; iv) building a support network; v) becoming your own therapist. Conclusion This study provides further supports for the implementation of early intervention and developmentally-informed care for EDs. Future service model development should include efforts to increase early help-seeking.

Treatment experiences of male and female youths with eating disorders

“…An early intervention model for eating disorders (First Episode Rapid Early Intervention for Eating Disorders; FREED) has been developed to provide developmentally appropriate treatment for older adolescents and young adults (Allen et al, 2020). The FREED model is perceived to be helpful, even among individuals who were ambivalent about treatment, given that health professionals have the opportunity to “strike whilst the iron is hot” (p. 11), provide therapeutic support in the context of ambivalence, and facilitate understanding about the severity of the illness (Potterton et al, 2021). Future research is warranted to elucidate whether access to early intervention decreases the likelihood of negative eating disorder treatment experiences.…”

We need your ideas—How to deliver developmentally informed treatment and care for emerging adults with eating disorders? A special European Eating Disorder Research issue about age transitions in eating disorders

“…FREED is holistic and person‐centred and highlights the importance of flexible involvement of families and close others. Patients' experience of the care provided under FREED is very positive (Potterton et al., 2021).…”

Response to Treasure and Schmidt: joined-up care for youth-onset eating disorders

“…The UK is leading the way on youth early intervention, reducing the duration of untreated EDs. 3 Australia needs collaborative research on implementing these approaches.…”

“…This is also the time when youth can most benefit from early intervention during the first stages of an ED. 3…”

“…This is also the time when youth can most benefit from early intervention during the first stages of an ED. 3 We proposed that adult ED services should 'reach down' to early adolescence, in order to provide continuity of care across the lifespan, an approach tested in South Australia. 2 However, Treasure and Schmidt argue that adult ED services are often underfunded and thus unable to 'reach down'.…”