Experience of caring for someone with anorexia nervosa: qualitative study.
BACKGROUND
Caring for someone with anorexia nervosa is distressing.


OBJECTIVE
To gain a detailed understanding of carers' illness models and caregiving experiences.


METHODS
Qualitative analysis and computerised text analysis were conducted on narratives written by parents as part of a family intervention at a specialist in-patient unit (20 mothers, 20 fathers).


RESULTS
Themes concerned illness perceptions, impact on the family, and carers'emotional, cognitive and behavioural responses towards the illness. Parents perceived anorexia nervosa to be chronic and disabling. Carers blamed themselves as contributing to the illness and perceived themselves as helpless in promoting recovery. Mothers illustrated an intense emotional response, whereas fathers produced a more cognitive and detached account.


CONCLUSIONS
Part of the distress in living with anorexia nervosa may be explained by unhelpful assumptions and maladaptive responses to the illness. Training parents in skills to manage the illness may improve outcome by reducing interpersonal maintaining factors.
Whitney
Jenna
J
PO Box 59, Eating Disorders Research Unit, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF,UK. j.whitney@iop.kcl.ac.uk
Murray
Joanna
J
Gavan
Kay
K
Todd
Gill
G
Whitaker
Wendy
W
Treasure
Janet
J
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D001294:Attitude to Health; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D004644:Emotions; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006701:Home Nursing / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D012737:Sex Factors; D006113:United Kingdom