ABSTRACT
Outpatient treatment for anorexia nervosa is often discussed as an alternative to inpatient care for mild cases of recent onset or as a follow-up phase of treatment after hospital discharge. Some experts have suggested contraindications for outpatient management that are so inclusive (e.g. weight 15 per cent below expected level, hypotension, suicidal ideation) that few individuals with the diagnosis would be eligible to remain at home. While hospitalization is clearly essential for some patients and may be beneficial for others, biases toward inpatient care as standard treatment for anorexia nervosa are unfortunate for a number of reasons.
