title: A systematic review of the literature on family functioning across all eating disorder diagnoses in comparison to control families.
abstract: The objectives of this review were to systematically identify and evaluate quantitative research comparing family functioning (a) in eating disorder families with control families, (b) in families with different eating disorder diagnoses (c) perceptions of different family members and (d) the relationship between family functioning and recovery. This adds to the findings of previous reviews of family functioning by including data from control families, the range of diagnoses, and focusing on recovery. Findings were considered in relation to models of family functioning. Using specific search criteria, 17 research papers were identified and evaluated. Findings indicated that eating disorder families reported worse family functioning than control families but there was little evidence for a typical pattern of family dysfunction. A consistent pattern of family dysfunction for different diagnoses was not suggested but patients consistently rated their family as more dysfunctional than one or both of their parents. With respect to outcome and recovery, those with more positive perceptions of family functioning generally had more positive outcomes, irrespective of severity of eating disorder. Conclusions were limited by inconsistent findings and methodological issues. Further research is needed into the relationship between family functioning and outcome and the assessment of family functioning beyond self-report.
authors: Coventry Eating Disorders Service, 2 Dover Street, Coventry CV1 3DB, United Kingdom. Electronic address: anita.holtom-viesel@covwarkpt.nhs.uk.
authors: Anita
authors: A
authors: Holtom-Viesel
authors: University of Leicester, Clinical Psychology Unit, 104 Regent Road, Leicester LE1 7LT, United Kingdom. Electronic address: sa172@leicester.ac.uk.
authors: Steven
authors: S
authors: Allan
mesh_terms: D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005195:Family Relations; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D011613:Psychotherapy
keywords: Anorexia nervosa; Bulimia nervosa; Eating disorder; Family functioning