Frequently Asked Questions

1. What kinds of eating disorders, and what age range of patients, do you treat?



2. How many patients are in your program?



3. Do patients in the eating disorders program interact with general psychiatry patients?



4. What is the typical length of stay in treatment?



5. How often do patients have individual therapy?



6. How often do patients see a psychiatrist?



7. Is exercise part of your treatment program?



8. What about school for minor patients?



9. Will parents of patients have someone to talk with on a regular basis?



10. How often are visits and phone calls with family and friends permitted?



11. What kind of clothes should I bring to the hospital?



12. What should I bring besides my clothes?



13. Do I need to bring money with me?



14. Who are the professional staff?



15. What is the cost of treatment?



16. How is admission arranged?

What kinds of eating disorders, and what age range of patients, do you treat?

Our inpatient and partial hospitalization programs treat male and female children, adolescents and adults who have anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa or other non-specific eating disorders.

Our outpatient adolescent group is for girls and boys ages 13 to 17, and our outpatient adult group program is for women ages 18 and up.

How many patients are in your program?

There are typically 7-12 patients in the adolescent inpatient program, 8 patients in the adult inpatient program and 8-10 patients in each of the partial hospitalization programs.

The outpatient adolescent group and the outpatient adult group each include up to 8 patients.

Do patients in the eating disorders program interact with general psychiatry patients?

Patients in the inpatient eating disorders program reside in a distinct, self-contained section of a general psychiatry unit. Other than adolescents interacting with general psychiatry patients in the school classroom, the programming for inpatients in the eating disorders program is completely separate from the programming for our general psychiatry inpatients.

For adolescents in partial hospitalization, general psychiatry and eating disorders program patients are combined during much of the program day. For adults in partial hospitalization, general psychiatry and eating disorders program patients are combined in some groups but most of their programming is separate.

What is the typical length of stay in treatment?

Length of stay in inpatient and partial hospitalization is determined by an individual patient’s needs, taking into account the nature and extent of the difficulties the individual is experiencing. Thus, length of time in treatment will vary and there is no “typical” length of stay. Some of our patients stay for several weeks, others for several months or longer.

For the outpatient groups, patients are asked to make a commitment to participate for a minimum of 3 months, but many patients stay longer.

How often do patients have individual therapy?

Each patient meets with his or her therapist three times per week.

How often do patients see a psychiatrist?

Each patient meets with his or her psychiatrist at least once a week.

Is exercise part of your treatment program?

Yes. Patients begin engaging in a moderate level of supervised physical activity once they have reached a weight at which exercise is appropriate. For patients with a history of excessive or compulsive exercise, emphasis is placed on helping the individual develop and practice a flexible program of moderate exercise.

What about school for minor patients?

Children and adolescents in the inpatient and partial hospitalization programs attend school for three hours per day, in a classroom provided by the Los Angeles Unified School District. Academic assessment and remedial services are available. If the classroom staff determines that a patient has special education needs, the staff will inform the parents and offer assistance in obtaining special education services and placement in the appropriate academic setting upon discharge from the hospital. Staff can also offer input about the best school setting for those adolescents who do not require special education services.

Will parents of patients have someone to talk with on a regular basis?

Yes. The case coordinator and/or the social worker maintain regular contact with parents of our adolescent patients (and, with patient permission, family members of our adult patients). Family therapy sessions are typically held once a week for our adolescent patients, and parents are encouraged to attend the weekly parent support group led by our inpatient nursing staff.

How often are visits and phone calls with family and friends permitted?

For the adolescent inpatient program, visiting hours are seven days a week from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. and also from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. on weekends and holidays. For the adult inpatient program, visiting hours are seven days a week from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. and also from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. on weekends and holidays. There is a pay phone on each inpatient unit that can be used to make or receive calls during free time up until 10 p.m. for adolescents, and up until 10:30 p.m. for adult patients. Phone calls are usually limited to 10 minutes each, so that everyone has a chance to use the phone. The phone may not be used during scheduled activities.

What kind of clothes should I bring to the hospital?

We recommend bringing washable, easy-care clothing, clearly marked with one’s name, enough for 7-10 days. Laundry facilities are on the inpatient unit, and laundry detergent will be supplied for you. Suggested items to bring include:

• Athletic shoes
• Socks
• Mid-thigh shorts
• Jeans, sweatpants or capris
• Pajamas, bathrobe and slippers
• Blouses or tee shirts (including some with long sleeves)
• Sweater and/or light jacket
• Jewelry that is not long and dangling and that does not present a safety hazard is permitted

What should I bring besides my clothes?

You are welcome to bring other items that may help you feel more comfortable during your stay, such as your own comforter, pillows, pictures (but no glass frames), posters, books, CD player or iPod. Small clocks (battery-operated clocks are recommended), radios, blow dryers, hair straighteners, curling irons and electric shavers are permitted.

Do I need to bring money with me?

When you and your treatment team decide that you are ready, you will begin participating in weekly group snack outings and lunch outings. You will need approximately $15 per week for snack and lunch out. In addition, inpatients and partial hospital patients occasionally go out to see a movie; you will need approximately $10 to participate in each of these trips.

Who are the professional staff?

Our multidisciplinary treatment team is comprised of licensed clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, clinical social workers, occupational therapists, recreation therapists and psychiatric nurses – all with extensive experience in the care of patients with eating disorders and their families. All treatment is under the general oversight of Michael Strober, Ph.D.

What is the cost of treatment?

The cost of inpatient and partial hospitalization, as well as the cost of the outpatient groups, depends upon your insurance benefits. We will verify your insurance benefits and discuss specific costs with you prior to admission. We regret that Medi-Cal does not cover our eating disorders programs.

How is admission arranged?

For admission to the adolescent inpatient eating disorders program, please contact Roberta Freeman, R.N., M.S.N., at (310) 267-9140.

For admission to the adult inpatient eating disorders program, please contact Maureen Lynch, R.N., M.S.N., at (310) 267-7364.

For admission to one of the outpatient eating disorders groups, please contact Cynthia Pikus, Ph.D., at (310) 206-3954.