EXAMINING THE REFERRAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PAEDIATRIC EATING DISODER REFERRALS TO A SPECIALIST EATING DISORDER SERVICE PRE AND DURING COVID

ABSTRACT

Clinicians have noticed a significant increase in cases of youth with an eating disorder (ED) presenting since the beginning of the COVID-19 lockdown, with younger cases attending and presenting with atypical features. The overall aim of the study is to explore the effect of COVID-19 on presentations to an eating disorder team in a child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) setting. A retrospective chart review was completed of all initial multidisciplinary assessment notes of patients with ED referred to a CAMHS specialist ED service between 1st January 2018 and May 31st 2021. Data was compared over the study time periods pre-COVID and during- COVID. When comparing the pre-COVID cohort to the during-COVID cohort, there was a greater proportion of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other ED diagnoses than anorexia nervosa (AN) in the during-COVID cohort. Mention was made of COVID having had a significant negative effect on the young person in 80% of cases presenting during COVID. The mean duration of weight loss was 7.4 months pre-COVID and 4.4 months during-COVID (P value <.001). The effects of lockdown restrictions during the pandemic have triggered EDs in some young people. Youth with EDs referred to specialist ED services during the COVID-19 pandemic exhibit a shorter duration of weight loss and are more likely to receive an ED diagnosis other than AN. Further research is required to better understand the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on ED illness on a sample representative of youth with ED.