title: Carers' assessment, skills and information sharing (CASIS) trial: a qualitative study of the experiential perspective of caregivers and patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Families express a need for guidance in helping their loved ones with anorexia nervosa (AN). Guided self-help interventions can offer support to caregivers.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred seventy-eight adult AN patients and their caregivers were recruited from 15 UK treatment centres. Families were randomized to carers' assessment, skills and information sharing (C) intervention + treatment as usual (TAU) or TAU alone. Feedback forms were sent at 6 months post-discharge and, if not returned, at 12 months. One hundred two (57%) patient forms (n = 50TAU; n = 52C) and 115 (65%) caregiver forms (n = 60TAU; n = 55C) were returned. Two researchers coded data blind, using thematic analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  (i) Caregivers and patients express a need for post-discharge support. (ii) Patients identify helpful and unhelpful support strategies, useful for developing future interventions. (iii) Patients could identify positive caregiver behaviour changes targeted in intervention. (iv) Guided self-help may benefit caregiver and sufferer, post-discharge.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Caregiver interventions can be a useful tool that will improve the cost effectiveness of inpatient treatment by enhancing the well-being of caregivers and patients.
authors.affiliation: Eating Disorders Research Unit, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, UK.
authors.forename: Pam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Macdonald
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rhind
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hibbs
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Goddard
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raenker
authors.forename: Gill
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Todd
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Treasure
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000628:therapy*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D036301:Qualitative Research; D057566:Self Report
keywords: anorexia nervosa; caregiver; eating disorders; qualitative research; skills training intervention