Barriers and facilitators to treatment in severe and enduring eating disorders: a mixed-methods study of access, engagement, and lived experience.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

An estimated 20 to 30% of individuals with eating disorders (EDs) experience protracted illness trajectories, often referred to as severe and enduring eating disorders (SEED). Research examining the systemic, relational, and experiential factors that influence access to and engagement with care in this population remains limited. This mixed-methods study aimed to explore the structural, clinical, and interpersonal barriers and facilitators shaping treatment experiences among individuals with longstanding EDs.

Method

An explanatory sequential mixed-methods design was employed with 41 participants. Stage One involved an online survey assessing demographic characteristics, diagnostic history, treatment exposure, and symptom severity, with descriptive statistics used t

SUBMITTER: Lubieniecki G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12427117 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature