ABSTRACT
Home-based treatments have been used for many disorders and illnesses, often with good outcomes. However, unlike other illnesses, evidence-based treatments for eating disorders almost exclusively take place in specialty research settings or in private practice. The adaptation of these treatments for eating disorders has not been extended to the home-based setting. In this chapter, we propose that providing treatments in settings other than traditional outpatient practices may improve access for clients who would otherwise receive no or suboptimal care. Here, we give an overview of the scientific premise and rationale for home-based behavioral treatment; review how home-based treatments have been utilized for other psychiatric disorders; and discuss the challenges and opportunities posed by the home-based treatment approach, particularly when applied to eating disorders. We then present a case in which an evidence-based treatment was adapted for use in the home. Based on our review and analysis, we conclude that treatments for eating disorders can be amenable to delivery in the home and that home-based treatments are an important tool for a disorder that has such a high mortality rate.
