Early Intervention in Eating Disorders

Friday, February 28th, 2025 (09:00-16:30)

Venue: The GAS Building, Trinity College School of Nursing & Midwifery, D’Olier Street, Dublin 2.

Buy Tickets

Early Bird Ticket (Includes tea/coffee/ lunch). Only available until January 31st	€110
Full Price Ticket (includes tea/coffee/lunch). From February 1st	€130
Full Price Ticket (NO lunch)	€120
Student/unwaged (includes lunch)	€100

Introduction

Eating Disorders far too often develop quickly into chronic, unremitting patterns of behaviour and thinking that can have a devastating impact on individuals and their families. For the 7 th Irish National Eating Disorders Conference, in conjunction with BODYWHYS, we are pleased to welcome three wonderful speakers (from England and The Netherlands) with a wide range of expertise, both clinically and from a research perspective. The focus of their presentations will be on how early intervention programmes can be utilised in the treatment of eating disorders. There will also be additional presentations from local Irish researchers/clinicians – details to follow.

Keynote Morning Workshop:

Title: Emerging adulthood and identity development in eating disorders: Learning from FREED (First Episode Rapid Early Intervention for Eating Disorders) and MANTRA (Maudsley Model of Anorexia Nervosa Treatment for Adults).

Dr Karina Allen, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, South London & Maudsley NHS Trust, UK.

 

Abstract: Emerging adulthood refers to the developmental period between 18 and 25-30 years of age. Approximately 50% of eating disorders develop in this period, which is characterised by considerable neurodevelopmental, educational and social change. Eating disorders can disrupt these changes and the process of identity development. This workshop will focus on (1) the concept of emerging adulthood and why this developmental period is relevant to understanding eating disorders, and (2) how to work effectively with emerging adults and consider identity development as part of evidence-based eating disorder treatment.

The workshop will draw on learning from FREED (First Episode Rapid Early Intervention for Eating Disorders) and MANTRA (Maudsley Model of Anorexia Nervosa Treatment for Adults). FREED is an evidence-based early intervention model for eating disorders which reduces waiting times for treatment, reduces Duration of Untreated Eating Disorder, improves clinical outcomes, and offers cost benefits through reducing the need for inpatient care. FREED was specifically developed for 16- to 25-year-olds with an eating disorder of <3 years duration and encourages attention to emerging adulthood in treatment. MANTRA is one of three first-line evidence-based treatments for anorexia nervosa in adults. It is based on a cognitive interpersonal maintenance model and includes attention to identity and identity formation. Attendees do not need to be familiar with FREED and MANTRA to benefit from this workshop, as key principles of each will be considered. The workshop content will also be relevant to other treatments, e.g., for clinicians using CBT for Eating Disorders (CBT-E/CBT-ED) and family- based interventions.

Biography: Karina is Consultant Clinical Psychologist at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Adult Eating Disorder Service and an Adjunct Reader in the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King’s College London. She has worked in the field of eating disorders for over 20 years, holding academic and clinical roles in Australia and then the UK. She was heavily involved in the England-wide roll-out of First Episode Rapid Early Intervention for Eating Disorders (FREED) and co-leads the NHS England training for Maudsley Anorexia Nervosa Treatment for Adults (MANTRA). Karina also co-leads the new UK-wide Eating Disorders Clinical Research Network, funded through the Medical Research Council.

Keynote Afternoon Workshop:

Workshop Title: ‘VIBES’ – A family-based early intervention programme for eating disorders

Prof Annemarie van Elburg Professor of Clinical Psychopathology, Centre for Eating Disorders, Rintveld, Altrecht Mental Health Institute & Utrecht University, Netherlands.

 

Dr. Gwen Dieleman, Consultant Child and Adolescent psychiatrist, Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus Medical Centre-Sophia Children’s Hospital, Rotterdam, Netherlands.

 

Abstract: Early identification of anorexia nervosa, followed by efficient referral to appropriate care, is essential to promote a rapid and effective recovery process, ultima and adolescents with anorexia nervosa in the Netherlands (https://kenniscentrum-kjp.nl/keet/), we have translated the ideas gained from F.R.E.E.D. (Austin et al, 2021), a treatment for young adults with anorexia nervosa who have been ill for less than 3 years to VIBES, a project for a younger age range. VIBES is a novel approach, based on the principles of FBT, to the treatment of anorexia nervosa in children and adolescents with early, first-episode illness to achieve rapid recovery and prevent the development of lifelong consequences of the illness. Patients who are potentially eligible for VIBES are immediately scheduled for the next available intake (with a goal of < 2 weeks from referral). VIBES-eligible patients and their parents are then quickly (< 2 weeks from intake) assigned to two experienced ED therapists to begin stage- appropriate psychological treatment. The treatment has a strong focus on the parents, who work with their child in a small number of sessions to restore eating patterns. The goal is morbid) treatment and schedule a follow-up appointment.

This workshop will explain what is covered in the intake and treatment sessions, what we have learned about (contra)indications, and discuss initial results. We would like to discuss with the audience the question whether experience is needed in working with eating disorders OR that experience in working with children & adolescents will suffice!

Biographies: Annemarie is a Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist and has been working in the field of eating disorders for over 25 years. She is a clinician, a researcher and a teacher; since 2013 she is a Professor of Clinical Psychopathology, especially Eating Disorders, at the Dept of Clinical Psychology, University of Utrecht. She has served on numerous national and international committees and boards and has written extensively on the aetiology and treatment of people suffering from an eating disorder. Currently she is Medical Director of Co-eur, a Mental Health Institution specialised in the treatment of Eating Disorders in the Netherlands. Gwen is a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and researcher at the department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology at the Erasmus Medical Centre-Sophia Children’s Hospital in Rotterdam. She is the program lead of K-EET, a national steering group of medical professionals and policy makers, that aims to improve the early detection and long-term outcomes of children and adolescents with eating disorders in the Netherlands. It is her ambition to strengthen the care and knowledge at the interface of mental and physical disorders in childhood as a clinical researcher and by influencing mental health policy.