Promoting Optimal Collaboration Between Mental Health Providers and Nutritionists in the Treatment of Eating Disorders

Abstract

The mental health provider-nutritionist collaboration is a primary partnership in the treatment of eating disorders, and its integrity is important for good patient care. Utilizing critical incident qualitative methodology, 22 professionals who specialize in the treatment of eating disorders (12 mental health providers, 10 registered dieticians) were interviewed about instances of problems in collaborations between these two professions, and the impact and resolution of such conflicts. Findings were used to compile a list of best practices. Results are interpreted with reference to research on professional health care teams in medical settings. Implications for interprofessional education and training are discussed.

The lived experience of working with people with eating disorders: A meta‐ethnography

“…Humility was also apparent in HCPs demonstrating a desire for more training; providing a rationale for decisions; collaborating with service users and their families, and being open to learning from conflict and mistakes: “[Conflict] gives me the opportunity for self‐reflection. I always appreciate it when the dietitian that I work with, challenges my thinking” (mental health professional; Dejesse & Zelman, , p. 198). Having personal history of ED was portrayed as facilitating humility and guarding against “an us/them kind of perspective” (therapist; Williams & Haverkamp, , p. 404).…”

Louder than words: power and conflict in interprofessional education articles, 1954–2013

“…Despite pointing out these discrepancies, it did not rely on a strong conceptualisation of power and conflict in its analysis. The second article used critical incident analysis to examine issues of collaboration among professionals treating eating disorders . The incidents described highlighted a variety of power and conflict issues, which were further elaborated in the discussion.…”

“…The incidents described highlighted a variety of power and conflict issues, which were further elaborated in the discussion. Here again, the article's theoretical underpinnings were limited, leading the authors to make superficial suggestions, such as that better communication and conflict resolution may make power struggles disappear . These two articles represent tentative, initial explorations of power dynamics.…”

Gastrointestinal Complications of Refeeding in Anorexia Nervosa

“…AN patients present with psychological, medical, and nutrition concerns, which is why the approach of a multidisciplinary team is imperative for positive treatment outcomes [10]. The registered dietitian (RD) plays a crucial role as a part of the multidisciplinary treatment team, possessing unique skills to apply medical nutrition therapy and assist with medical monitoring, while also addressing food-related behaviors [3,11].…”

“…The registered dietitian (RD) plays a crucial role as a part of the multidisciplinary treatment team, possessing unique skills to apply medical nutrition therapy and assist with medical monitoring, while also addressing food-related behaviors [3,11]. The RD is the member of the multidisciplinary team who often guides the weight restoration process by determining a starting kilocalorie point for the patient's meal plan and working with the patient to apply continuous increases in energy intake while monitoring patterns of weight gain as well as any medical side effects from the refeeding process [10,12]. Weight restoration has been shown to be absolutely essential in rehabilitation and recovery from AN, and has been associated with positive short and long-term outcomes, as well as an improvement in several psychological and medical complications [12].…”