By Camille Noe Pagán
WebMD Feature
Reviewed by Joseph Goldberg, MD
If you struggle with binge eating and want to stop, outpatient care is a good option. You'll regularly get treated at a health care center or clinic, but you won't have to stay overnight.
This form of treatment helps nearly 70% of people with binge eating disorder recover, research shows.
Your doctor may recommend outpatient care, or you can seek it yourself. You should first check if your health insurance provider requires a doctor’s referral.
Outpatient Care: Where to Find It
You can find this kind of care for binge eating at:
- A hospital or medical center that treats people with eating disorders
- An eating disorder treatment center
- The office of a psychiatrist, psychologist, or therapist
In most cases, treatment begins with weekly or biweekly care, “because people with binge eating disorder often respond really well to that,” says Jennifer J. Thomas, PhD. She’s the co-director of the Eating Disorders Clinical and Research Program at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Types of Therapy
Outpatient therapy can last several months or longer. There are different types. Your type may depend on where you get treatment and what your insurance covers.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most common and effective forms used to treat binge eating. It helps you turn negative thoughts into healthier, more realistic ones so you can change your behavior.
Say, for instance, you tend to ask yourself: “I have no control over my eating, so why should I try to quit?” With CBT, you'd learn to say something like: “There are things I can do to avoid a binge. I’ll try calling a friend to distract myself until the urge passes.”
Guided self-help is a form of CBT that involves using materials (such as a workbook) that teach you how to recognize things that trigger your binges, improve your body image, and prevent a relapse.
Interpersonal therapy focuses on your relationships with others and your life situation.
Additional individual or group therapy can provide extra support. "Hearing from someone else who changed their behavior can be more motivating than having an expert say, 'You can do this,'" says Angela Guarda, MD. She's the director of the Johns Hopkins Eating Disorders Program.
source : Outpatient Care for Binge Eating: What to Expect
