The authors present the experiences of the parents of 7 2 patients with anorexia nervosa andlor bulimia nervosa. Most patients experience serious parenting difficulties, with two out of 12 parents abandoning their children. As expected, the severity of marital dysfunction appears to mirror the severity of parenting dysfunction. Assessment of parenting skills should be a routine part of the assessment of any patient with Anorexia nervosa or Bulimia nervosa who is also a parent.

A day hospital group treatment program is detailed which could offer effective treatment to many patients with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa who would otherwise require inpatient treatment. The day hospital program can offer important clinical and financial advantages over an inpatient program. A major difference between the day program and an inpatient setting is the degree of containment offered to the patient and control over the patient's behavior. This necessitates important innovations. The day hospital treatment program includes psychological, social, and biological interventions. Most psychological treatment is done in groups. Staff use a multidisciplinary team approach. Potential pitfalls in the program include countertransference reactions and pathological group processes.

This paper presents the results of a study examining self‐reported family functioning by patients with bulimia nervosa (BN) and their parents before and after treatment for the eating symptoms of BN. Ratings of family functioning improved significantly over the course of treatment. There was no evidence of excessive denial or social desirability in the families. © 1995 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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