Table 2.
Characteristics of the pathways to care.
| Median (Min;Max) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Months between the onset of current ED episode and access to ED unit | 24 (0;36) | |
| Length of the pathway (months) | 24 (0;35) | |
| Number of health professionals | 2 (1;10) | |
| Number | Percent (%) | |
| First health professional of the pathway | ||
| Psychiatrist | 107 | 26.2 |
| General practitioner | 101 | 24.7 |
| Psychologist | 70 | 17.1 |
| Nutritionist | 36 | 8.8 |
| Hospital doctor | 29 | 7.1 |
| Endocrinologist | 3 | 0.7 |
| Pediatrician | 23 | 5.6 |
| Gynecologist | 2 | 0.5 |
| Occupational doctor | 1 | 0.2 |
| Other (non-specified) | 6 | 1.5 |
| None (direct access to ED unit) | 31 | 7.6 |
| Health professional who was seen before the access to ED unit | ||
| Psychiatrist | 140 | 34.2 |
| General practitioner | 89 | 21.8 |
| Psychologist | 70 | 17.1 |
| Nutritionist | 34 | 8.3 |
| Hospital doctor | 35 | 8.6 |
| Nobody | 21 | 5.1 |
| Pediatrician | 9 | 2.2 |
| Other (non-specified) | 8 | 2 |
| Endocrinologist | 2 | 0.5 |
| Refused | 1 | 0.2 |
| Most common symptoms that promoted the referral to the first health professional of the pathway | ||
| Eating-related symptom | 256 | 68.4 |
| Depressive symptom | 104 | 27.9 |
| Anxiety | 85 | 22.7 |
| Somatic symptom | 53 | 14.2 |
| Organic symptom | 27 | 7.2 |
| Interpersonal problems | 27 | 7.2 |
| Behavioral disorders | 20 | 5.4 |
| Sleep disturbance | 18 | 4.8 |
| Suicide attempt | 8 | 2.1 |
| Most common symptoms that promoted the arrival at the specialist ED unit | ||
| Eating-related symptom | 356 | 87.7 |
| Depressive symptom | 178 | 43.8 |
| Anxiety | 167 | 41.1 |
| Somatic symptom | 127 | 31.3 |
| Sleep disturbance | 77 | 19 |
| Interpersonal problems | 65 | 16 |
| Organic symptoms | 53 | 13.1 |
| Behavioral disturbance | 53 | 13.1 |
| Suicide attempt | 20 | 4.9 |
| Psychotic symptoms | 6 | 0.1 |
| Suggestion to seek care that promoted the access to the specialist pathway | ||
| Family | 192 | 53.2 |
| Patient | 141 | 39.1 |
| General practitioner | 10 | 2.8 |
| Friends | 8 | 2.2 |
| Partner | 5 | 1.4 |
| Psychologist | 3 | 0.8 |
| Workmate | 1 | 0.3 |
| Previous carer | 1 | 0.3 |
| Suggestion to seek care that promoted the arrival at the specialist ED unit | ||
| Family | 164 | 40.3 |
| Patient | 171 | 42 |
| Previous carer | 129 | 31.7 |
| Friends | 19 | 4.7 |
| Partner | 14 | 3.4 |
| Workmates | 4 | 1 |
| Nutritionist | 1 | 0.2 |
| Psychologist | 1 | 0.2 |
| General practitioner | 1 | 0.2 |
| Psychiatrist | 1 | 0,2 |