Our PHP is built upon a family-based treatment model widely considered the most effective treatment for young people with Anorexia Nervosa (AN). This model has also been shown to benefit patients with other eating disorders, such as Bulimia Nervosa (BN) and Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). Our PHP’s interdisciplinary team includes adolescent medicine physicians and nurses, psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers, dietitians, behavioral health technicians, and a certified teacher/learning specialist, as well as support staff.

Patients spend five days a week in the program and return home each evening and on weekends. By combining in-program and at-home experiences, patients, their families, and the treatment team work together to create healthier lifestyles in a structured setting with opportunities to practice these important skills at home rather than in the isolation of an inpatient or residential program.

Within our program, family involvement is an important part of recovery. Family members provide mealtime support by joining the patient for at least one of their daily therapeutic meals. Program staff will provide support, troubleshoot challenging mealtime behavior, and encourage mealtime interactions that promote recovery. Throughout the day, all patients participate in group sessions with our staff. Patients’ family members also participate in groups together.

School-aged patients spend time each day with our certified teacher/learning specialist to keep up with their schoolwork. Together, they work as a collaborative team to stay connected to their teachers or instructors and remain engaged with classroom assignments. Our learning specialist maintains contact with the patient’s school team to coordinate successful transitions back to the school setting.

The IOP is a step-down level of care intended to help families transition from PHP to traditional outpatient services. Patients and families attend fewer days per week, for fewer hours per day. Therapeutic meals and family and group psychotherapy sessions continue to be the main components of our IOP.

C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital has both medical and psychiatric inpatient units devoted to medical and behavioral safety and stabilization. For patients who require medical stabilization, the Comprehensive Eating Disorders Program can coordinate inpatient medical hospitalization at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital for patients up to 22 years of age. At the inpatient level of care, the pediatric, adolescent medicine, and child and adolescent psychiatry teams work collaboratively with the patient and family, following best practice guidelines. Patients’ vital signs and bloodwork are monitored frequently, 24-hour supervision is provided, nutritional needs are assessed and managed by a registered dietitian, meal and bathroom breaks are monitored, and the patient is seen by physician(s) every day. 

Occasionally, intravenous fluid or nasogastric tube feeding is needed for medical stabilization and to prevent further deterioration of the patient's condition. Length of hospitalization may be one week or more, with discharge according to improvements in the patient’s status and establishment of a plan for further treatment.

Medical hospitalization for young adults hospitalized at University Hospital (rather than C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital) is not managed by Comprehensive Eating Disorders Program providers.

For patients who are stable to receive treatment at a lower level of care, we offer outpatient adolescent medicine and dietitian appointments to support nutritional rehabilitation, monitor medical stability, and promote ongoing recovery. Our providers collaborate closely with patients, families, and outpatient treatment teams to deliver coordinated, evidence-based care tailored to each individual's needs. These services help ensure safe recovery, address medical and nutritional concerns, and support continued progress toward long-term health and well-being.

You will be contacted after review of the phone interview and scheduled for an evaluation appointment with the most appropriate providers.  Typically, this will be a multidisciplinary visit which includes psychiatric and medical assessments. This appointment is for both the patient and his/her parent(s) or support person(s). 

If you are scheduled for an evaluation appointment, our intake coordinators will provide you with several forms to complete. Please complete the forms you are provided and return them in advance of your appointment.  This will include requests for growth records for your child beginning at age 4 years old.

Completing and returning your information at least a week before your visit enables us to use your visit time more effectively.

Occasionally, young people are reluctant to attend an appointment. If you have concerns about how to support your child in attending their appointment, please ask us for suggestions in advance.

If you will be unable to attend your scheduled appointment, we request and appreciate a notice of at least 3 business days so that we may offer the appointment to another family.

Following the intake, our treatment team will work together to determine what type of treatment and level of care will be most appropriate for you or your child. If treatment with our program is indicated, we will work with you and your insurance company to secure the appropriate authorizations to begin treatment.

If it is determined that our treatment programs will not be the best type of treatment for you or your child, we will work to connect you with appropriate resources.

Our program has partnered with some of the largest insurance companies and third party payers to develop eligibility and admission guidelines for our program. If you are scheduled for an intake appointment, our program staff will ask you to provide insurance information prior to your visit to help us facilitate this process for you.