Identifying Programme-Led and Focused Interventions for Early Intervention for Eating Disorders in Youth: A Rapid Review

Background

Early intervention (EI) for eating disorders (EDs) has been recognised as important for interrupting the onset of ED symptoms and improving outcomes. Despite growing evidence for EI models of service delivery in community-based settings, there is limited clarity on which specific interventions might best suit young people in these contexts. In this rapid review, we aimed to identify and explore the evidence for programme-led and focused interventions applicable to an EI service delivery model for youth with EDs in community-based settings.

Methods

A systematic search was conducted in MEDLINE, Web of Science, and PsycINFO databases, focusing on interventions that maximise the use of resources, namely guided self-help and group approaches, for individuals under age 30. Studies were screened for eligibility based on intervention brevity (12 sessions or fewer) and relevance to EI models.

Results

Findings indicated that while many interventions reduced ED symptoms, few were explicitly designed for EI. Notably, interventions are skewed towards young adult populations, with fewer interventions addressing paediatric needs. Further, the strength of evidence for interventions varied, with many articles reporting on studies with small sample sizes or results illustrating non-superiority to comparison or control.

Conclusion

This review highlights the need for further research on programme-led and focused interventions tailored to EI, particularly for younger populations, to build an evidence base and improve early-stage ED treatment options in resource-limited community-based settings.