Since its creation in 1986, the Eating Disorders Program (EDP) has offered specialized clinical services for people 18 years and older who suffer from anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa. Children and adolescents can consult the services for children and adolescents of the Douglas Institute or the child psychiatry program of the Montreal Children's Hospital or the CHU Sainte-Justine.
A personalized approach
Eating disorders are caused by many factors—biological, psychological, and even social factors— that vary between individuals. For this reason, the EDP offers individualized treatment to resolve problems involving eating and weight control and to enhance the overall physical, psychological and social well-being of each person seeking help.
Treatments may involve one or more of the following:
An Out-Patient Clinic that offers a comprehensive range of services that can be adjusted to meet individual needs:
- Individual, family/couple, and group therapy
- Pharmacological therapy
- Nutritional therapy
A Day Program that offers highly-structured, group-based treatment. The program addresses the needs of individuals requiring intensive care, provides a more structured environment than the Out-Patient Clinic, and addresses eating problems and related psychological and behavioural issues. The program runs for eight weeks.
The only one of its kind in Quebec, the Day Hospital is designed for people with severe eating disorders who are still able to manage adequately without overnight supervision.
Day hospital treatment provides intensive therapy in a welcoming, therapeutic atmosphere. This treatment option is often suited to the needs of those leaving in-patient treatment and can sometimes replace the need for hospitalization.
The In-Patient Unit is for people with severe medical and psychological complications or those for whom out-patient treatment is insufficient to resolve eating disorder symptoms. The treatment consists of full 24-hour hospitalization and intensive, specialized treatment.
The In-Patient Unit has six beds in a secure, warm, and comforting environment.
Access to services
- You must provide a referral from a healthcare professional (you must undergo a complete physical exam).
- Within days of receiving the referral, staff conducts a preliminary evaluation by phone to determine the severity of your symptoms and assess your needs.
- You are then informed of the anticipated wait time and the available community resources you may contact for professional services (medical and psychotherapeutic) or support services (self-help or other groups) while waiting to be treated by the program.
Research to direct service planning at various stages
Research activities of the Eating Disorders Program are completely integrated into clinical practice. These activities direct the planning of services at various stages (through the conclusions drawn from result profiles and also through prognostic indices and optimum therapeutic approaches for different patient sub-groups).
A centre of expertise and information
The Eating Disorders Program also serves as a regional centre of expertise and information on eating disorders. Staff members provide consultation and training services to professionals working in the Quebec health care network and to various community partners such as ANEB, an association that assists people suffering from anorexia and bulimia.
The Eating Disorders Program provides specialized transdisciplinary training to clinicians, researchers, and students in undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate university programs.
The goal of this training is to:
- Educate clinicians about current best-practice standards
- Demonstrate how to modify practice according to the latest research findings
Most EDP team members hold appointments in their respective university departments (psychiatry, psychology, social work, dietetics, occupational therapy, etc.), and offer formal teaching on eating disorders through these roles.
The team also participates in public education activities organized by the Douglas Institute: For exemple, Howard Steiger, PhD, gave Mini-Psych School courses in 2007 and 2009.
An influence on the entire McGill RUIS
The Eating Disorders Program acts as a provincial centre for eating disorders as part of the provincial action plan on the treatment of mental illnesses. In this role, the program supports the network of services aimed at the needs of Quebec residents affected by eating disorders.
Contact information and opening hours
Douglas Institute
Eating Disorders Program
6603-6605 LaSalle Boulevard
Montreal, Quebec H4H 1R3
Phone: 514-761-6131, extension 2895
Fax: 514-888-4085
from Monday to Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
