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Updated: May 31, 2026

Control of Eating Behavior Using a Novel Feedback System
Published on: May 8, 2018
Cognitive interpersonal maintenance model of eating disorders: intervention for carers
Elizabeth Goddard1, Pamela Macdonald, Ana Rosa Sepulveda
1Department of Psychological Medicine, 5th Floor Bermondsey Wing, Guy's Hospital, London SE1 9RT, UK. Elizabeth.Goddard@kcl.ac.uk.
Background:
Carers of people with eating disorders report high levels of distress. In addition, carers' responses to the illness may perpetuate eating disorder symptoms. A cognitive interpersonal maintenance model of eating disorders is proposed and interventions for carers may improve well-being in both carers and patients. Aims To examine an interpersonal maintenance model of eating disorders, using a self-help intervention for carers.
Method:
A pre-test-post-test design was used with carers randomised into self-help or guided self-help, which included the Expert Carers Helping Others (ECHO) intervention. Carers' distress, well-being, proposed maintenance factors, and carer reports on the status of the patient were measured.
Results:
Carers' distress reduced and secondary outcomes improved. Improvement in carers' status and perceived improvements in patients were associated with reductions in expressed emotion and in accommodating and enabling behaviours. Self-help and guided self-help versions were comparable.
Conclusions:
Changes in maintenance factors from the theoretical model were associated with a reduction in carers' distress and improvement in perceived patient functioning. Interventions which specifically target maintaining factors may be of benefit.
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