title: Is perceived family dysfunction related to comorbid psychopathology? A study at an eating disorder day treatment program.
abstract: The role of the family in the development of eating disorders has been a predominant research focus. However, few studies of patients in an eating disorder (ED) day treatment program (DTP) have explored the relationship between self-reported family system functioning, self-reported comorbid psychopathology and current comorbid psychological symptom status. This study examined patients at presentation to an ED DTP, their self-reported perception of family functioning and the relationship with characteristics of their own comorbid psychopathology characteristics. Medical records of 51 day treatment female patients, ranging in age from 12 to 26 years, were examined by ED diagnosis and family type (using the FACES-II), and for significant differences on four self-report measures: SCL-90, EDI-2, BDI and TAS-20. Using MANOVA analyses and Bonferroni comparisons, significant differences on the self-report instruments for the entire sample and for the AN and BN patients were obtained when studying patients within different family types as defined by FACES-II. These data specific to DTP patients support previous findings for both IP and OP ED family studies. Overall, as family functioning was perceived to be more dysfunctional, the level of self-reported eating pathology and current comorbid psychological symptoms was also more severe.
authors.affiliation: Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology at Yeshiva University, Albert Einstein School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Willo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wisotsky
authors.forename: Ida
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dancyger
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fornari
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Swencionis
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.forename: Marcie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wisotsky
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000296:Adolescent Psychiatry; D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D003631:Day Care, Medical; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005195:Family Relations; D005196:Family Therapy; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009518:New York; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012380:Role; D012649:Self Concept; D013383:Suburban Population