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Evaluation of National Highly Specialized Care for Children and Adolescents With Severe Self-Harm or Eating Disorders
Sponsor: Karolinska Institutet
Summary
National Highly Specialized Care (NHV) is provided in Sweden to children and adolescents with severe and treatment-resistant self-harm or eating disorders when previous treatment has not led to sufficient improvement. NHV offers intensive, individualized care delivered by multidisciplinary teams with specialized expertise. This observational study aims to evaluate NHV provided at two specialized psychiatric services in Region Stockholm: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Stockholm (BUP Stockholm), for severe self-harm, and the Stockholm Centre for Eating Disorders (SCÄ), for children with severe eating disorders. The primary aim is to explore patients' and their parents' or legal guardians' experiences of NHV and their perceptions of its effects through qualitative interviews conducted at treatment completion and one year later. Secondary aims are to evaluate treatment feasibility, adherence, and changes in psychiatric symptoms, functioning, and skills during and after treatment. Data are collected through questionnaires completed by patients and their parents or legal guardians, clinical assessments, and medical records. Assessments are conducted 1) at baseline, which is defined as the first treatment week, 2) after six weeks of treatment, 3) at regular treatment completion (approximately 12-13 weeks), 4) if the treatment is extended by 4-6 weeks due to, for example, severe comorbidity, an additional assessment is conducted at the end of this treatment extension, 5) at six-month follow-up, and 6) at twelve-month follow-up after treatment completion. The study aims to improve understanding of the benefits and limitations of NHV and contribute to the further development of specialized psychiatric care for children and adolescents with complex treatment needs.
Official title: National Highly Specialized Care (NHV) for Children and Adolescents With Severe Self-Harm and Eating Disorders: Evaluation of Treatment Experiences, Feasibility, and Clinical Outcomes
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
13 Years - Any
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
120
Start Date
2026-05-04
Completion Date
2030-05-31
Last Updated
2026-10-27
Healthy Volunteers
No
Interventions
National Highly Specialized Care (NHV)
National Highly Specialized Care (NHV) provides individualized treatment for children and adolescents with severe and treatment-resistant self-harm or eating disorders. Treatment typically involves 12-13 weeks of intensive inpatient and psychotherapeutic care delivered by multidisciplinary teams. Treatment approaches are selected based on clinical needs and treatment history and may include dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) or its adaptations, family-based treatment (FBT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), or other evidence-based approaches. Multidisciplinary teams also provide interventions involving social workers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and other professionals according to individual needs. Treatment includes preparation and follow-up phases and is determined independently of study participation.
Locations (2)
Stockholm's child and adolescent psychiatry (BUP Stockholm)
Stockholm, Sweden
Stockholm Centre for Eating Disorders (SCÄ)
Stockholm, Sweden