[Parental Distress of Patients Who Refuse to Eat: Toward a Deeper Understanding and Greater Support for Parents of Children Suffering from an Eating Disorder].

Abstract

Parental Distress of Patients Who Refuse to Eat: Toward a Deeper Understanding and Greater Support for Parents of Children Suffering from an Eating Disorder Abstract: Many parents experience their role as parents of a daughter/son with anorexia nervosa as very troublesome and demanding. In several departments of child and adolescen psychiatry in Germany, the contact between parents and adolescent patients with anorexia nervosa is still restricted because parents are often judged responsible for the eating disorder of their child - or at least seen as troublemakers during their child's inpatient treatment. Parents blame themselves for the development of anorexia nervosa, and in comparison to other mental disorders of adolescence, they experience even more guilt and shame. Many of them suffer from psychiatric disorders themselves (not a few from eating disorders), which reinforce feelings of helplessness and shame. Several parents have partnership problems and must take off work to support their child, which often leads to financial losses for the whole family. They complain that they have insufficient support and feel misunderstood by health professionals whom they wish to have a profound knowledge of the disorder and who would trust and understand the carers. This article provides several recommendations to improve the relationship between parents and therapists: termination of contact restrictions, detailed information for the parents about possible biological and psychological causes of eating disorders, including psychoeducational groups and involvement in treatment, not only through therapeutic conversations but also through practical exercises such as meal support. An innovative approach is home treatment, which offers the chance to integrate parents into treatment and thus improve their skills in handling their daughter´s/son´s illness. We should be aware that parents are the most important resource to help young patients with debilitating eating disorders.