Citation

Winn S, Perkins S, Walwyn R, Schmidt U, Eisler I, Treasure J, Berelowitz M, Dodge L, Frost S, Jenkins M, Johnson-Sabine E, Keville S, Murphy R, Robinson P, Yi I. Int. J. Eat. Disord. 2007; 40(2): 171-178.

Affiliation

Eating Disorders Unit, Institute of Psychiatry, London, United Kingdom.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/eat.20347

PMID

17089419

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This exploratory study focuses on the mental health (MH) and caregiving experience of carers of adolescents with Bulimia Nervosa (BN)/Eating Disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS), aiming to determine: levels of MH problems in carers and if a negative experience of caregiving predicts carer MH status and which factors predict a negative experience of caregiving. METHOD: Hundred and twelve carers and 68 adolescents with BN/EDNOS completed self-report measures (General Health Questionnaire, Experience of Caregiving Inventory, Level of Expressed Emotion, Self-report Family Inventory, Inventory of Interpersonal Problems). RESULTS: Over half of the carers reported some MH problems and a minority (5.4%) were experiencing considerable difficulties. A negative experience of caregiving predicted carer MH status. Higher weekly contact hours and patient ratings of expressed emotion (EE) predicted a negative experience of caregiving. CONCLUSIONS: Interventions focusing on reducing EE and contact hours could prove beneficial for both patient and caregiver outcomes.

Language: en