A framework to conceptualize personal recovery from eating disorders: A systematic review and qualitative meta‐synthesis of perspectives from individuals with lived experience

Abstract

Background: An extensive literature exists describing treatment interventions and recovery from eating disorders (EDs); however, this body of knowledge is largely symptom-based and from a clinical perspective and thus limited in capturing perspectives and values of individuals with lived experience of an ED. In this study, we performed a systematic review to coproduce a conceptual framework for personal recovery from an ED based on primary qualitative data available in published literature. Methods: A systematic review and qualitative meta-synthesis approach was used. Twenty studies focusing on ED recovery from the perspective of individuals with lived experience were included. The studies were searched for themes describing the components of personal recovery. All themes were analyzed and compared to the established CHIME and SAMHSA frameworks of recovery, which are applicable to all mental disorders.Themes were labeled and organized into a framework outlining key components of the ED personal recovery process. Results: Supportive relationships, hope, identity, meaning and purpose, empowerment, and self-compassion emerged as the central components of the recovery process. Symptom recovery and its relationship to the personal recovery process is also significant. Conclusions: Individuals with lived experience of EDs noted six essential elements in the personal ED recovery process. This framework is aligned with several of the key components of the CHIME and SAMHSA frameworks of recovery, incorporating personcentered elements of the recovery process. Future research should validate these constructs and develop instruments (or tools) that integrate the lived experiences into a measurement of recovery from an ED.

Meaning in Life Mediates Between Emotional Deregulation and Eating Disorders Psychopathology: A Research From the Meaning-Making Model of Eating Disorders

“…In this regard, studies have found that people with ED have lower levels of meaning in life than recovered patients (de la Rie et al, 2007), problems with their identity (Stein and Corte, 2007), feelings of hopelessness (Robinson et al, 2015), and poor quality of life (Tomba et al, 2017). In a recent study, Wetzler et al (2020) confirmed that connectedness, hope, and optimism about the future, identity, meaning in life, and empowerment are important components of recovery in ED participants. Thus, patients indicated that they found meaning in their lives from ED, and finding actual meaning in life and important goals and values beyond ED is a very important part of recovery.…”

A mixed-methods approach to conceptualizing friendships in anorexia nervosa

“…One seemingly insurmountable obstacle for effective treatment of AN is the identification of sources of reinforcement that prove more valuable than the drive for thinness. Recovery from AN often necessitates the individual expand their life to include other valued activities, which can be difficult due to how highly the illness itself is valued [ 22 , 23 ]. Supportive relationships have been highlighted as an important factor in recovery [ 23 ].…”

“…Recovery from AN often necessitates the individual expand their life to include other valued activities, which can be difficult due to how highly the illness itself is valued [ 22 , 23 ]. Supportive relationships have been highlighted as an important factor in recovery [ 23 ]. However, it is unclear whether individuals with AN value friendships and relatedly, whether friendships would be sufficient competition for the disorder during recovery.…”

Διευρεύνηση Μη Ειδικών Θεραπευτικών Παραγόντων Που Σχετίζονται Με Θετική Έκβαση Των Ψυχοθεραπευτικών Παρεμβάσεων Σε Πάσχουσες Από Διαταραχή Πρόσληψης Τροφής

“…de la Rie et al, 2005, Hay, 2003, Latner et al, 2008. Θ ΔΡΤ, όμωσ, φαίνεται να ζχει ςοβαρι επίπτωςθ και ςτθ γενικι υγεία και τισ κοινωνικζσ ςχζςεισ, εφρθμα που επίςθσ είναι αναμενόμενο και ερευνθτικά επιβεβαιωμζνο (Doll et al, 2005, Hay, 2003 , Padierna et al, 2002, Stockford et al, 2019, Wetzler et al, 2020.…”

“…Αυτοί οι παράγοντεσ είναι πικανό να ςυνδζονται με τθ διαταραχι, αλλά δεν είναι ςαφζσ εάν αποτελοφν αιτία ι αποτζλεςμα. Ωςτόςο, οι περιςςότερεσ προθγοφμενεσ ζρευνεσ ζχουν προςδιορίςει αυτά τα ελλείμματα ωσ παράγοντεσ κινδφνου για τθν εμφάνιςθ ι διατιρθςθ τθσ ΔΡΤ (Cervera et al, 2003, Fairburn et al, 1999, Haslam et al, 2012, Stockford et al, 2018, Wetzler et al, 2020, Wade et al, 2008.…”