Eating disorders

Prof Kate Tchanturia from King’s College London is building on her previous Medical Research Foundation and MRC-funded study, ‘The Triple A study (Adolescents with Anorexia and Autism symptoms)’. Her past work has looked into the interaction of anorexia nervosa and autism spectrum disorders, identifying vulnerable patients who may be unlikely to respond to current existing treatments for anorexia.

Now, together with Dr Zhuo Li, Prof Tchanturia aims to lay the foundation for the adoption of an autism-friendly clinical pathway for eating disorder treatments.

Known as the PEACE pathway, this approach is specifically designed to meet the particular needs of people with autism who have co-occurring eating disorders, who are often faced with significant social and emotional challenges when undergoing treatment. The PEACE pathway is helping to adapt standard treatments to make clinical practices more suitable for neuro-diverse requirements.

In collaboration with the South London and Maudsley National Eating Disorders Service, the team will develop training resources, informational packs, and treatment recommendations to guide healthcare professionals with implementing autism-friendly adjustments.

Furthermore, through close engagement with the NHS England Clinical Reference Group's Autism Working Group, this initiative will influence healthcare policy at a national level, and improve overall standards of practice.

By sharing PEACE-related findings and resources, this project will foster greater awareness of neurodiversity in healthcare settings and promote person-centred care for people with co-occurring autism and eating disorders.