Personal meaning and eating disorder treatment: comment on Warren et al

Comments on an article by C. S. Warren et al. (see record 2013-21802-001). Clinicians who treat eating disorders are reported by Warren, Schafer, Crowley, and Olivardia (2013, pp. 553-564) to have significant levels of burnout, with significant observed relationships to important factors such as experience in the field and recent patient mortality. The levels of burnout among those who persist in treating patients with eating disorders, however, were lower than expected, and clinicians with a personal history of eating disorders reported finding higher levels of meaning in their work. This comment explores the possibility that many eating disorder clinicians find satisfaction and meaning in this work for reasons that may not be immediately obvious. Additionally, it considers the possibility that some of the personal meaning derived from clinicians who report themselves "recovered" may be due to residual, unrecognized, or unreported emotional struggle surrounding eating and exercise that lends additional personal significance to this work.