A Group for the Parents of Children with Eating Disorders

Abstract

In this article, we describe the role and functions of a group for the parents of children receiving treatment for eating disorders. We comment on the group process and evaluate the usefulness of the group from our viewpoint as therapists, and from the point of view of parents who have attended the group over the last year. Examples are given from the leaders' session notes. The role and content of the group is discussed in relation to other treatment modalities and to the current thinking about effective treatment for severe eating disorders in the younger age group. In our view, a group for parents is a valuable adjunct to other therapies in the treatment of early onset eating disorders.

An examination of the impact of the Maudsley Collaborative Care skills training workshops on patients with anorexia nervosa: A qualitative study

“…Some of the therapeutic processes involved in the workshops overlap with those of other family interventions (Eisler, 2005;Holtkamp, Harpertz-Dahlmann, Vloet, & Hagenah, 2005;Nicholls & Magagna, 1997) and further research will help to delineate whether the skills training workshops offer carers and sufferers benefits that are distinct from other family interventions, for example, family therapy. Further research will also need to isolate the critical aspects of the Collaborative Care workshops in predicting positive outcomes (e.g.…”

Childhood onset anorexia nervosa: the experience of parents

“…Systematic studies are lacking and the little information that is available comes from reports of treatment or support groups (Jeammet & Gorge, 1980;Lewis & MacGuire, 1985;Nicholls & Magagna, 1997;Rose & Garfinkel, 1980), or from anecdotal accounts (MacDonald, 2000). Although such reports provide valuable insights into the experience of living with a child suffering from anorexia nervosa, they have several limitations: (1) they tend not to be based on systematic methods of data collection and analysis; (2) some accounts, such as those of support groups, do not usually provide parents' accounts directly, often emphasizing the facilitators' views; and (3) fathers' views are rarely noted.…”

‘Too busy’? Father's attendance for family appointments

“…Fathers attend for child health issues when asked by their partners, or when there is a serious developmental issue to consider (Kerr and McKee, 1981), and family stress levels might need to be exceptionally high in some cases for some fathers to attend (O'Brien, 1994). A father quoted in feedback from a group for parents of anorexic children (Nicholls and Magagna, 1997) stated: 'the hospital should insist that fathers take part in these meetings. Of course, they are too busy, but then maybe they have been too busy for their children too.…”