How best to support parents of children with an eating disorder: A commentary on Wilksch (2023)

Gorrell, Sasha; Grange, Daniel Le

doi:10.1002/eat.23992

Intl J Eating Disorders

2023

DOI: 10.1002/eat.23992

|View full text |Cite

How best to support parents of children with an eating disorder: A commentary on Wilksch (2023)

Sasha Gorrell

Daniel Le Grange

Abstract: Wilksch (2023) uses survey data to characterize the perspective of caregivers of children who have undergone treatment for an eating disorder. With this framework, the author presents an evocative view of both the challenges these parents experience in acquiring needed specialty treatment, as well as the negative impact that the caregiving role may have on their own well-being. Altogether, this Forum underscores the unquestionable importance of not overlooking the practical and emotional needs of caregivers of… Show more

Help me understand this report

Search citation statements

Order By: Relevance

Paper Sections

Select...

Citation Types

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Year Published

2024

Publication Types

Select...

Article2

Relationship

Self Cite0

Independent2

Authors

Journals

Cited by 2 publications

References 6 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

The urgent need for greater parent support and better health system experiences to enhance outcomes for pediatric anorexia nervosa: A Commentary on Marchetti & Sawrikar (2023)

Wilksch

2024

Intl J Eating Disorders

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Marchetti and Sawrikar's (2023) systematic review of parent illness representations of their child's anorexia nervosa provides a valuable synthesis of 32 qualitative studies. The key themes that emerge paint a concerning picture of parents' perceptions of AN as: difficult to identify and understand; of chronic duration; uncontrollable; severe; and associated with serious consequences. A sense of hopelessness and low‐parental self‐efficacy was identified. This Commentary explores the key findings of this review in four areas: AN treatment and recovery (control/cure); emotional representations of the illness; parent understanding of the illness (coherence) and its causes; and consequences of the AN. These illness perceptions are discussed along with relevant quantitative investigations of parent experiences, with a view to suggesting how the toll on parents might be reduced and how reducing burdens on parents might also lead to improved timely treatment outcomes. It is proposed that two broad features are needed: improved help‐seeking experiences in the health care system; and, more parent‐focussed support.

show abstract

The urgent need for greater parent support and better health system experiences to enhance outcomes for pediatric anorexia nervosa: A Commentary on Marchetti & Sawrikar (2023)

Wilksch

2024

Intl J Eating Disorders

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Processes of change in family therapies for anorexia nervosa: a systematic review and meta-synthesis of qualitative data

Cripps,

Serpell,

Pugh

2024

J Eat Disord

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objective To synthesise young person and family member perspectives on processes of change in family therapy for anorexia nervosa (AN), including systemic family therapy and manualised family-based treatments, to obtain an understanding of what helps and hinders positive change. Method A systematic search of the literature was conducted to identify qualitative studies focussing on experiences of therapeutic change within family therapies for AN from the perspectives of young people and their families. Fifteen studies met inclusion criteria and underwent quality appraisal following which they were synthesised using a meta-synthesis approach. Results Six overarching themes were generated: “A holistic focus on the young person’s overall development”; “The therapeutic relationship as a vehicle for change”; “The therapist’s confinement to a script and its impact on emotional attunement”; “A disempowering therapeutic context”; “Externalisation of the eating disorder (ED)”; and “The importance of family involvement”. Positive change was helped by understanding and support given to the young person’s overall development including their psychological, emotional, social and physical wellbeing, positive therapeutic relationships, relational containment within the family system and externalising conversations in which young people felt seen and heard. Positive change was hindered by inflexibility in the treatment approach, counter-effects of externalisation, negative experiences of the therapist, a narrow focus on food-intake and weight, as well as the neglect of family difficulties, emotional experiences, and psychological factors. Conclusions Positive change regarding the young person’s eating-related difficulties ensued in the context of positive relational changes between the young person, their family members, the therapist and treatment team, highlighting the significance of secure and trusting relationships. The findings of this review can be utilised by ED services to consider how they may adapt to the needs of young people and their families in order to improve treatment satisfaction, treatment outcomes, and in turn reduce risk for chronicity in AN.

show abstract

scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.

Contact Info

customersupport@researchsolutions.com

10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614

Henderson, NV 89052, USA

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Blog Terms and Conditions API Terms Privacy Policy Contact Cookie Preferences Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

Made with 💙 for researchers

Part of the Research Solutions Family.

How best to support parents of children with an eating disorder: A commentary on Wilksch (2023)

Cited by 2 publications

References 6 publications

The urgent need for greater parent support and better health system experiences to enhance outcomes for pediatric anorexia nervosa: A Commentary on Marchetti & Sawrikar (2023)

The urgent need for greater parent support and better health system experiences to enhance outcomes for pediatric anorexia nervosa: A Commentary on Marchetti & Sawrikar (2023)

Processes of change in family therapies for anorexia nervosa: a systematic review and meta-synthesis of qualitative data

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About