Elsevier

General Hospital Psychiatry

Volume 67, November–December 2020, Pages 136-140
General Hospital Psychiatry

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on help-seeking behaviors in individuals suffering from eating disorders and their caregivers

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2020.10.006Get rights and content

Abstract

Objective

To describe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on help-seeking behaviors among individuals with eating disorders and caregivers.

Methods

We analyzed service utilization data from the National Eating Disorder Information Centre (NEDIC). We compared the number of contacts and symptom frequency between the pandemic period and previous years.

Results

NEDIC was contacted 609 times during March 1–April 30, 2020 (72.1% individuals affected by disordered eating, 20.4% caregivers). The number of total contacts significantly increased from 2018 to 2019 and 2018 to 2020 (X2(3) = 50.34, p < .001). Among affected individuals (80.4% women), the number of contacts during the pandemic period was significantly higher (n = 439; X2(2) = 92.74, p < .001) compared to 2018 (n = 197) and 2019 (n = 312). There were higher rates of eating disorder symptoms, anxiety, and depression in 2020 compared to previous years. Thematic analysis of instant chats from the pandemic year revealed four emerging themes: 1) lack of access to treatment, 2) worsening of symptoms, 3) feeling out of control, and 4) need for support.

Conclusion

These findings point toward the impact of COVID-19 in individuals affected by disordered eating and hold implications for service delivery during times of crises.

Keywords

COVID-19
Eating disorder
Internet
Treatment
Psychotherapy

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