title: Cultural factors in orthodox Jewish adolescents treated in a day program for eating disorders.
abstract: This study explores the specific role of culture and religion in the development of eating disorders (ED) in Orthodox Jewish female adolescents. We present eight cases admitted to a Day Treatment Program (DTP) for Eating Disorders. Additionally, some preliminary comparisons are examined between Orthodox and all other patients, and also between ultra and modern Orthodox patients. All eight adolescents were transferred from inpatient care, three met program treatment goals, two left prematurely, and three required re-hospitalization. The only significant differences between the Orthodox group and all other patients were on length of stay in the DTP and current use of psychotropic medications. Overall, results suggest that Orthodox patients and all other patients show similar ED presentation and course. However, there are unique cultural and religious circumstances, which require consultation with rabbinic authorities.
authors.affiliation: Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, North Shore University Hospital, New York University School of Medicine, Manhasset, New York, USA. ida.dancyger@nyu.edu
authors.forename: Ida
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dancyger
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fornari
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.forename: Marcie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Shawn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Frank
authors.forename: Willo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wisotsky
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sison
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Charitou
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017668:Age of Onset; D002648:Child; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007585:Jews / Q000523:psychology*; D007599:Judaism; D009519:New York City; D016896:Treatment Outcome