How Is Waitlist Duration Associated With Clinical Presentation and Treatment Engagement in Public Eating Disorder Services? A Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: Prolonged waiting times for eating disorder treatment are common in Australian public services and are associated with high attrition. Qualitative evidence suggests waiting may worsen symptoms and treatment credibility and expectancy beliefs; however, quantitative evidence is limited. METHOD: This study examined whether waitlist duration was associated with eating disorder symptom severity, psychological distress, interpersonal problems, treatment beliefs, or treatment completion at a specialist outpatient service. Data from 168 clients (98% female; Mage 25 years) were analyzed. RESULTS: Mean waitlist duration was 132 days (SD = 73.4). Waitlist duration was not significantly associated with symptom severity, depression, anxiety, stress, interpersonal problems, treatment credibility, or expectancy, or treatment completion (all ρs ≤ 0.11, p > 0.05). DISCUSSION: Regardless of wait time, clients presented with substantial symptom severity and elevated distress at intake. Although longer waits were not associated with outcomes among those who reached intake, prolonged delays in the context of significant clinical need highlight the importance of rapid treatment responsiveness and closer attention to engagement and attrition processes.