Single Session Intervention for Eating Disorders

Centre for Eating, Weight and Body Image

About this event

Presented by Dr Anthea Fursland and Dr Sue Byrne.

With unconscionably long waiting lists, particularly since COVID-19, there is an imperative to provide evidence-based assistance to patients while they are waiting for treatment. The Single Session Intervention (SSI) was developed at the Centre for Clinical Interventions (CCI) in Perth, Western Australia, in response to long waiting lists. An SSI, conducted by an experienced clinical psychologist, is offered to newly referred individuals or families (ideally within 2 weeks of receipt of the referral) during which patients and families are given crucial information regarding eating disorders, with a focus on their particular presentation.

The aim of an SSI is to provide psychoeducation, develop a preliminary formulation, offer strategies, empower patients and their families to start making changes as soon as possible and motivate them towards recovery whist they are waiting to commence treatment. Published results from CCI have indicated that after completing an SSI, underweight patients gained an average of 2 kg (5.5 lb) and, overall, there was a statistically significant reduction in EDE-Q scores, binge eating and self-induced vomiting episodes by the time patients attended their first treatment session (up to 7 months later). Since the publication of these data, additional data have been collected from other eating disorder practices around Australia which have adopted the SSI and evaluated the outcomes. This workshop will provide an overview of the rationale behind, and the development of, the SSI and describe the content of the SSI and the specific SSI protocol, with video demonstrations (role plays) and opportunity for practice and discussion.