To the Editor: The Mandometer treatment for patients with eating disorders (Box 1), developed at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, was brought to the attention of the public and the profession in Australia through Norman Swan’s Health Report in 2003.1 Since then, 40 patients from Australia have received treatment using this method, 29 of whom were treated in Stockholm, seven in Melbourne and four in San Diego.

In a randomised controlled trial, Mandometer treatment brought 75% of patients into remission in an average 14 months, with a relapse rate of about 10% during 5 years of follow-up.2 There are seven criteria for remission, including normal eating behaviour, normal body mass index (BMI) and physical parameters, and remission of psychiatric symptoms. Patients must have returned to school or work, be comfortable with their body weight, and have avoided binge eating and vomiting for at least 3 months. Patients fulfilling five of these criteria are considered in partial remission.