Neurodiversity

The impact of autism, ADHD and other forms of neurodivergence on the development and maintenance of eating disorders and the importance of adapting treatment in response to patients’ neurodiversity are increasing well understood. Newmarket House’s recovery-orientated approach, with its focus on the whole person, addressing the factors underpinning their eating disorder, harnessing their strengths, encouraging them to embrace their identity and helping them to find new ways not only to cope but also to thrive, is well-suited to working with neurodivergent patients. The calm, non-restrictive environment is also especially helpful to patients with sensory processing and emotion regulation challenges. In addition to these broader aspects of Newmarket House, we also have a comprehensive neurodiversity pathway designed to assess and support neurodivergent patients with their particular needs.

Newmarket House takes a detailed, longitudinal and multi-faceted approach to assessing neurodivergence. The inpatient setting allows us to observe patients over time, across a variety of different contexts and as they make progress in their eating disorder recovery in order to determine whether further, formal neurodiversity assessment may be warranted. This may initially take the form of screening measures, which can be followed where indicated by a comprehensive evaluation of autism or ADHD involving patients and their caregivers and provided in-house by Newmarket House clinicians. Where patients have received an autism diagnosis, either prior to or during their admission, a Care and Treatment Review (CTR) meeting is organised through their local NHS Integrated Care Board. These meetings are led by a clinical expert and expert by experience from outside the patient’s usual care team and are used to review current care and make recommendations for additional supports that should be offered during and following the admission.

Newmarket House provides a range of resources, treatment adjustments, and targeted interventions for neurodivergent patients. Patients and their caregivers can access support following the results of their assessment, which may include challenging misconceptions and potentially reconsidering aspects of their identity. Sensory assessments, clinical observations and other resources such as materials from the Maudsley PEACE pathway can all be used to identify and communicate patients’ specific treatment needs, to inform reasonable adjustments and to guide environmental and sensory accommodations. Some neurodivergent patients may require a personalised meal plan adapted to accommodate their sensory preferences and aversions. Many benefit from targeted interventions in areas such as emotion regulation, recognising and managing internal states, social engagement and establishing helpful routines. Newmarket House has a dedicated sensory room that can be used as part of a sensory diet, in individual or group therapy sessions or independently by patients as needed. It contains a variety of sensory tools with different functions that can be adapted to patients’ individual needs and is used to promote self-regulation, facilitate autonomy and self-empowerment, practise relaxation and increase sensory awareness.

Preparing neurodivergent patients for discharge and life at home is a key aspect of the pathway and starts as early as possible in patients’ admission. This involves working collaboratively with patients and their wider support network, considering how to transpose strategies and resources that have been identified as helpful at Newmarket House to their own environment and managing other aspects of the transition home.