Child and Adolescent Eating Disorders

Abstract Introduction Eating disorders often onset in adolescence and lead to significant morbidity, mortality, and illness burden. This resource presents the case of a teenage patient coming with her mother for an assessment with a psychiatrist at a multidisciplinary Eating Disorder Clinic team. Methods This resource is an electronic learning module consisting of a video of a simulated patient interview; up-to-date information on the common features, diagnostic criteria, treatment plans, and prognosis for child and adolescent eating disorders; and self-assessment quizzes. The module follows Olivia, a young girl with an eating disorder, from her initial assessment to her treatment. The interviewer acquires basic information needed to complete the history and mental status exam, addresses possible comorbidity, and covers basic suicide risk assessment. The first part of the module describes signs and symptoms of anorexia nervosa as well as a comprehensive management plan. The second part of the module focuses on signs and symptoms of bulimia nervosa and a management plan. Some information regarding other eating disorders is also provided. The module contains a brief survey at the end to obtain feedback. Overall, the module takes 30-60 minutes to complete. Results The module has been presented to several colleagues for internal review within the BC Children's Hospital site of BC Mental Health and Addictions Services and the University of British Columbia Undergraduate Education Committee. Feedback was obtained from psychiatrists and other members of a multidisciplinary eating disorders team, including a pediatrician, nutritionist, nurse, and psychologist. Student and resident feedback was also obtained and helped in making improvements to the module. Changes were made to the content to ensure more up-to-date factual accuracy and also to the format to ensure it was a reasonable length and offered engaging exercises for learners. Currently, each user must submit a questionnaire about the usefulness of the module. So far we have had positive feedback. Discussion The resource became available for the use of third-year medical students in September 2013. Students are encouraged to view the module to supplement their real-patient exposure and to discuss the contents with a supervisor or when the mid-rotation feedback uncovers gaps in patient exposure. Some fourth-year elective students and pediatric residents are also currently using the module. The module is not intended to replace exposure to real patients with eating disorders, but it can be used to augment clinical exposure and help acquire basic knowledge of these illnesses. We plan to use student feedback and further research and clinical developments to update and improve the module on a yearly basis.