Perspectives of general psychiatric inpatient care for persons with anorexia nervosa: an integrative literature review.

Abstract

<h4>Objectives</h4>Persons diagnosed with anorexia nervosa (AN) may receive care in general psychiatric inpatient care (GPIC) for several reasons including severity of their condition, comorbidities and lack of access to specialised inpatient care. However, scant research has explored how this specific setting may impact persons with AN, either positively or negatively. Additionally, there is limited evidence regarding the most effective form of care for AN within GPIC. This integrative literature review provides a comprehensive overview of research focusing on care for AN in GPIC settings, shedding light on person-centred care and power within this specific context.<h4>Design</h4>The review was conducted according to the methods of Whittemore and Knafl. We searched the academic databases PubMed, CINAHL and PsycInfo, with the latest search conducted in March 2025, in accordance with a specific search strategy and analysed the data using a constant comparison method. The review is reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses checklist for systematic reviews.<h4>Results</h4>The synthesis revealed three perspectives of care for persons with AN in the context of GPIC: <i>management of the symptoms, treatment of the patient</i> and <i>support for the person</i>. Overall, the findings suggest that GPIC can aid in weight gain, but the impact on recovery is unclear.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Research indicates that GPIC possesses the biomedical knowledge necessary to save lives, but there is a lack of research focusing on the perspectives of persons with AN. This gap in understanding may affect treatment outcomes, the possibility of recovery and the personal experience of care for those with AN in this context.<h4>Prospero registration number</h4>CRD42023426095.