Outpatient, Day Patient and Inpatient - What's the difference?

OP - Outpatient
Outpatient treatment can take a number of forms. The most common is a weekly appointment with a qualified therapist. There are a multitude of therapies that are traditionally used for treating eating disorders, but the options offered differ between NHS trust. Outpatient treatment is the most common form of treatment for eating disordered patients, and you can expect to have between 20 and 40 appointments over the course of your treatment. If outpatient treatment is completed, but you have not progressed to an expected level of recovery, your care team may consider an alternative, higher form of treatment.


DP - Day Patient
Day patient treatment consists of spending a majority of the day at a specialist eating disorders or mental health clinic. It is expected that you will eat at least two meals and two snacks while you are at the clinic, and you will be monitored after the meals and snacks to ensure you do not engage in disordered behaviours. You will also be offered therapies of differing types, including one-on-one and group sessions. Some clinics may offer art or drama therapies, however, as always, this varies depending on the location of the clinic.

IP - Inpatient
Inpatient treatment in the UK is usually offered as a last resort. It consists of a residential stay at a specialist eating disorder or mental health clinic. Stays vary in length, with some patients staying for a few days, and others staying for months at a time. Over the course of your inpatient treatment, you will be offered therapies, including one-on-one and group sessions, as well as some form of occupational therapy, such as outings to supermarkets and cooking your own meals.

You may be there as a voluntary patient, which means that you have consented to the treatment, and you are positive about working towards recovery with your care team. You may also be there as an involuntary patient, under a 'section.' A section is applied to patients who are deemed unfit to take responsibility of their own health, and hands decisions regarding your treatment to a third party, usually a member of your care team. Getting 'sectioned' is, again, a real last resort. If you are sectioned, you do not have the right to refuse any treatment, including NG feeding (tube-feeding) and will be unable to leave the treatment clinic unless approved by your care team.