A B S T R A C TThis study examined the association between family engagement and consumer satisfaction for the seriously emotionally disturbed children and adolescents admitted to an in-patient psychiatric unit in a large medical center. Participants were 45 male and female in-patients, aged 7-17, and their parents. At the time their child was discharged, parents completed a demographic questionnaire, the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist, and the Inpatient Parental Satisfaction Index. At the same time, the child's psychiatrist completed the Family Engagement Questionnaire. Results indicated that engagement is related to satisfaction, prior in-patient treatment is negatively related to engagement, and satisfaction with prior in-patient services is highly predictive of satisfaction with current services. At 9-month follow-up, 32% of the sample had been re-hospitalized. Rehospitalization was associated with poorer engagement in treatment and lower parent ratings of satisfaction with care. These results suggest the existence of a group of patients who undergo repeat hospitalizations with poor levels of engagement in their care.

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Results provide preliminary evidence that topiramate and zonisamide may be utilized for weight loss in a pediatric psychopharmacological treatment seeking sample, even if antipsychotics are also prescribed. A randomized controlled trial investigating the impact of topiramate and zonisamide on weight reduction is warranted.

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is considered a relatively “modern” disorder; however, a number of scholarly works have cited examples of voluntary self-starvation dating back to several centuries. In particular, there are many examples of female starvation for religious reasons during the medieval period, with many being elevated to sainthood. We present a case of an elderly woman with AN who began restricting her diet when she was 13-years old while studying to be a nun at a Catholic convent. She reports that, during the development of her disease, she had no mirrors and, rather than restricting her diet to be thin or attractive, she restricted her diet to be closer to God in hopes of becoming a Saint. This unique case presents an opportunity to deepen our understanding of AN and the cultural context that affects its development.