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Updated: Aug 15, 2026

Using the Activity-based Anorexia Rodent Model to Study the Neurobiological Basis of Anorexia Nervosa
Published on: October 22, 2015
Experience of caring for someone with anorexia nervosa: qualitative study
Jenna Whitney1, Joanna Murray, Kay Gavan
1PO Box 59, Eating Disorders Research Unit, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF,UK. j.whitney@iop.kcl.ac.uk
Background:
Caring for someone with anorexia nervosa is distressing.
Aims:
To gain a detailed understanding of carers' illness models and caregiving experiences.
Method:
Qualitative analysis and computerised text analysis were conducted on narratives written by parents as part of a family intervention at a specialist in-patient unit (20 mothers, 20 fathers).
Results:
Themes concerned illness perceptions, impact on the family, and carers'emotional, cognitive and behavioural responses towards the illness. Parents perceived anorexia nervosa to be chronic and disabling. Carers blamed themselves as contributing to the illness and perceived themselves as helpless in promoting recovery. Mothers illustrated an intense emotional response, whereas fathers produced a more cognitive and detached account.
Conclusions:
Part of the distress in living with anorexia nervosa may be explained by unhelpful assumptions and maladaptive responses to the illness. Training parents in skills to manage the illness may improve outcome by reducing interpersonal maintaining factors.
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