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Family functioning in anxiety and eating disorders--a comparative study
D B Woodside1, R P Swinson, K Kuch
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Comprehensive Psychiatry
|March 1, 1996
Summary
Patients with anxiety disorders (ADs) perceive their families of origin as less functional than the general population. Their family functioning ratings are similar to those with eating disorders, suggesting dysfunction is not unique to ADs.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Family Studies
Background:
- Family functioning significantly impacts mental health.
- Anxiety disorders (ADs) and eating disorders (EDs) are prevalent conditions.
- Previous research suggests a link between family dynamics and psychopathology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare family functioning ratings of patients with ADs to population norms.
- To compare family functioning ratings of patients with ADs to patients with EDs.
- To investigate the specificity of perceived family dysfunction in ADs.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Family Assessment Measure (FAM) general and self-rating scales.
- Recruited consecutive samples from Anxiety Disorders and Eating Disorders clinics.
- Compared ratings from AD patients, ED patients, and established population means.
Main Results:
- Patients with ADs reported significantly lower family functioning in their families of origin compared to population norms.
- No significant difference was found in family functioning ratings between patients with ADs and patients with EDs.
- Perceived family dysfunction in ADs is not unique to this disorder.
Conclusions:
- Patients with ADs perceive significant dysfunction in their families of origin.
- The findings suggest that perceived family dysfunction is a shared characteristic between anxiety disorders and eating disorders.
- This shared perception indicates that family dynamics may play a role across multiple psychiatric conditions.
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