Pathways into treatment for eating disorders: A quantitative examination of treatment barriers and treatment attitudes

Abstract

Most individuals with eating disorders do not receive treatment for their eating disorder. Closing this “treatment gap” requires a quantitative examination of individuals’ attitudes towards accessing various types of treatment and of individuals’ perceived barriers to seeking treatment. Thus, we recruited a sample of 425 individuals with either diagnosed or undiagnosed eating disorders and asked them to complete a survey assessing treatment attitudes, treatment barriers, and eating disorder symptom severity. Undiagnosed individuals reported more positive attitudes towards novel Internet- and smartphone-delivered treatments, and stronger barriers relating to eating disorders mental health lit..