Engaging teachers in an eating disorder preventive intervention.
OBJECTIVE
This study evaluated the effectiveness at 1-year follow-up of a psychoeducational eating disorders preventive intervention implemented by specifically trained teachers.


METHODS
Participating teachers participated in a 5-week training program. One hundred forty-one female students attending nine classes at a vocational training school in Mestre (Venice) were assessed via a structured clinical interview (Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I disorders) and via the 40-item Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-40). Three classes were randomly selected to participate in a 6-week prevention program conducted by the trained teachers.


RESULTS
Our data show that a disturbing number of the girls who were asymptomatic at baseline had developed a full or partial eating disorder 1 year later. This was the case for 2 (5%) participants and 10 (11%) subjects in the control group. Subjects in the prevention group differed significantly from the control group at the 1-year follow-up. This was the case for their EAT Bulimia subscale scores, which showed a significant improvement. The intervention group also revealed a lower development of food restraint and pathologic body attitudes.


CONCLUSIONS
Given the sample size, our findings must be considered cautiously. However, they suggest that students can benefit from participation in a preventive intervention program conducted by teachers, and the benefits appear to be particularly pronounced for bulimic symptoms.
Favaro
Angela
A
Psychiatric Clinic, Department of Neuroscience, University of Padua, Padova, Italy.
Zanetti
Tatiana
T
Huon
Gail
G
Santonastaso
Paolo
P
D000293:Adolescent; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D004493:Education; D005178:Faculty; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D014830:Vocational Guidance