[Therapeutic residential facilities for individuals with eating disorders: A survey on care concepts, clientele and outcomes].

Specialized therapeutic residential communities for individuals with eating disorders have become increasingly common in Germany. These facilities provide intensive care for clients whose disorder is too severe to be managed with outpatient psychotherapy alone. The study explores which residents are treated in these settings, which measures are carried out there and how the result is to be assessed from the perspective of the professionals.All residential communities affiliated with the German Federal Association for Eating Disorders (Bundesfachverband Essstörungen e.V. BFE) were invited to participate in the study. Seventeen residential community providers contributed data, which consisted of questionnaires completed by health professionals to collect key information about clients discharged over a one-year period.Data from 101 clients was analyzed. The majority of clients had been diagnosed with anorexia nervosa (78%), followed by bulimia nervosa (18%). Many clients had been hospitalized multiple times in the past. The mean age was 21 years (SD: 3.7), with 16 residents being minors at admission. The average length of stay was 17 months. Among clients with anorexia nervosa, the mean Body Mass Index (BMI) increased from 17.5 kg/m² at admission to 19.4 kg/m² at discharge. According to the evaluations by the staff, 73% of the clients with bulimia nervosa no longer had any binge eating episodes at the time they were discharged. Other disorder-specific symptoms also notably improved in both groups. Facilities commonly provided psychotherapeutic and socio-pedagogical interventions in individual and group formats, along with family therapy and crisis management as needed. Professionals rated the services as generally helpful for most residents.Specialized residential communities for individuals with eating disorders play a critical role in supporting recovery, particularly during the transition between inpatient and outpatient care.