Reflecting on the Eating disorder and Autism comorbidity: PEACE pathway Conference 2022

We presented an overview of our work, including outcomes, learning points and specially developed resources for clinicians and teams of health professionals working in this area.

 The PEACE Pathway is an innovative Pathway for Eating disorders and Autism developed from Clinical Experience. Our research suggests that around a third of people with an eating disorder may be autistic, or present with high autistic traits. Whilst autistic people with eating disorders require adapted treatments, prior to this pathway there was no systematic guidance or support for clinicians working with this population.

With the PEACE Pathway, we have introduced a specialised treatment track for autistic people, and people with high autistic traits, in our national eating disorder service in South London and Maudsley NHS Trust. This has included regular support and supervision for clinicians, the provision of training in recognising and adapting treatments around autism, and an autism assessment pathway for individuals with high features but no prior diagnosis.

Programme:

Welcome – Link between Autism and Eating disorders update? - Professor Kate Tchanturia (Consultant Clinical Psychologist/ Principal Investigator of PEACE Pathway, King’s College London)

Adapting Foodservice to Support Treatment and Recovery - Kate Williams (Dietetic adviser to the PEACE project)

Implementing new strategies in the dining room - Philippa Croft (Assistant Psychologist in the national ED inpatient ward)

Sensory workshops developed in the PEACE pathway - Cindy Toloza and Victoria Holetic (Assistant Psychologists Outpatient and day care services)

Case Study - Jess Webb (Assistant Psychologist in the national ED inpatient ward)

Question & Answer

Sensory workshops as a body positive activity - Dr Claire Baillie (Senior Chartered Counselling Psychologist, SLaM)

Carers need support: Let’s Collaborate - Madeleine Oakley (PEACE Carers Champion/Psychotherapist)

Personal experience 

What we have learned from case series on PEACE pathway? - Zhuo Li (PhD candidate/PEACE project manager)

Extending the reach of the PEACE pathway to Children and Young People - Joanna Holliday Laura Marshall, Laura MacKenzie and Kim Hoffman (Thames Valley team)

Question & Answer