Maximizing the public health impact of eating disorder services: A simulation study
Abstract
Objective: Although effective interventions for eating disorders (ED) are available, the impact of health care services on a population level is far from satisfactory. A mathematical model of how health care for ED affects the population's disease burden can stimulate discussions and provide guidance about promising strategies to reduce ED‐related suffering on the population level. Method: The current health care situation for ED is modeled taking into account the reach and effectiveness of prevention, treatment, and aftercare, as well as incidence rates, relapse rates, and rates for spontaneous remissions. A first‐order Markov model is applied and the effect of changes in single service parameters on the populations overall disease burden are simulated. Results: Improvements of treatment utilization and the reach of prevention programs would have the largest effects on the population's disease burden. Improving the efficacy of treatment, prevention, and aftercare show only limited effects. Discussion: In order to maximize the public health impact of health care for ED new models of treatment delivery as well as public health approaches to the prevention of ED are critical.
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Prevention programs have maximal potential to reduce disease burden.
“prevention programs have maximal potential to reduce disease burden [68]”
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Self-citation
- Authors
- Moessner, M., & Bauer, S.
- Affiliations
- University Hospital Heidelberg (DE)
- Center for Psychotherapy Research, University Hospital Heidelberg Heidelberg Germany
- Corresponding author
- Moessner, Markus
- ORCID
- Moessner, Markus
- Venue
- International Journal of Eating Disorders
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2017-10-27
- Volume
- 50
- Issue
- 12
- Pages
- 1378-1384
- ISSN
- 0276-3478 (ISSN-L)
- 1098-108X
- OpenAlex
- W2766706703
- Cited by
- 28
- References
- 51
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 1
- FWCI
- 4.07
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- International Journal of Eating Disorders (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior
- Keywords
- eating disorders, public health impact, health services, disease burden, prevention programs, treatment utilization, relapse, spontaneous regression, follow-up care, Markov model, treatment efficacy
- MeSH terms
- Feeding and Eating Disorders, Chronic Disease, Humans, Public Health
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