Publications
167 results found
McMaster CM, Paxton SJ, Maguire S, et al., 2023, The need for future research into the assessment and monitoring of eating disorder risk in the context of obesity treatment., Int J Eat Disord, Vol: 56, Pages: 914-924
In adolescents and adults, the co-occurrence of eating disorders and overweight or obesity is continuing to increase, and the prevalence of eating disorders is higher in people with higher weight compared to those with lower weight. People with an eating disorder with higher weight are more likely to present for weight loss than for eating disorder treatment. However, there are no clinical practice guidelines on how to screen, assess, and monitor eating disorder risk in the context of obesity treatment. In this article, we first summarize current challenges and knowledge gaps related to the identification and assessment of eating disorder risk and symptoms in people with higher weight seeking obesity treatment. Specifically, we discuss considerations relating to the validation of current self-report measures, dietary restraint, body dissatisfaction, binge eating, and how change in eating disorder risk can be measured in this setting. Second, we propose avenues for further research to guide the development and implementation of clinical and research protocols for the identification and assessment of eating disorders in people with higher weight in the context of obesity treatment. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE: The number of people with both eating disorders and higher weight is increasing. Currently, there is little guidance for clinicians and researchers about how to identify and monitor risk of eating disorders in people with higher weight. We present limitations of current research and suggest future avenues for research to enhance care for people living with higher weight with eating disorders.
Harper GDJ, Kendrick E, Anderson PA, et al., 2023, Roadmap for a sustainable circular economy in lithium-ion and future battery technologies, JOURNAL OF PHYSICS-ENERGY, Vol: 5, ISSN: 2515-7655
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- Citations: 5
Astle DE, Moore A, Marryat L, et al., 2023, We need timely access to mental health data: implications of the Goldacre review, LANCET PSYCHIATRY, Vol: 10, Pages: 242-244, ISSN: 2215-0374
Stilwell PA, White B, Graham C, et al., 2023, National consensus to develop core outcomes for the evaluation of complications from excess weight (CEW) clinics: results of a national Delphi process, ARCHIVES OF DISEASE IN CHILDHOOD, Vol: 108, Pages: 296-299, ISSN: 0003-9888
Sanchez-Cerezo J, Nagularaj L, Gledhill J, et al., 2023, What do we know about the epidemiology of avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder in children and adolescents? A systematic review of the literature, European Eating Disorders Review, Vol: 31, Pages: 226-246, ISSN: 1072-4133
Background:Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) was a new diagnosis in DSM-5. This systematic review explores what is known to date about the epidemiology of ARFID in children and adolescents.Method:Embase, Medline and PsycInfo were used to identify studies meeting inclusion criteria. PRISMA guidelines were followed.Results:Thirty studies met inclusion criteria, with most coming from specialised eating disorder services where prevalence rates were 5%–22.5%. Three studies from specialist feeding clinics showed the highest prevalence rates, ranging from 32% to 64%. Studies from non-clinical samples reported ARFID prevalence estimates ranging from 0.3% to 15.5%. One study, using national surveillance methodology, reported the incidence of ARFID in children and adolescents reaching clinical care to be 2.02 per 100,000 patients. Psychiatric comorbidity was common, especially anxiety disorders (9.1%–72%) and autism spectrum disorder (8.2%–54.75%).Conclusion:The current literature on the epidemiology of ARFID in children and adolescents is limited. Studies are heterogeneous with regard to setting and sample characteristics, with a wide range of prevalence estimates. Further studies, especially using surveillance methodology, will help to better understand the nature of this disorder and estimate clinical service needs.
Banstola A, Pokhrel S, Hayhoe B, et al., 2023, Economic evaluations of interventional opportunities for the management of mental–physical multimorbidity: a systematic review, BMJ Open, Vol: 13, Pages: 1-10, ISSN: 2044-6055
Objectives Economic evaluations of interventions for people with mental–physical multimorbidity, including a depressive disorder, are sparse. This study examines whether such interventions in adults are cost-effective.Design A systematic review.Data sources MEDLINE, CINAHL Plus, PsycINFO, Cochrane CENTRAL, Scopus, Web of Science and NHS EED databases were searched until 5 March 2022.Eligibility criteria We included studies involving people aged ≥18 with two or more chronic conditions (one being a depressive disorder). Economic evaluation studies that compared costs and outcomes of interventions were included, and those that assessed only costs or effects were excluded.Data extraction and synthesis Two authors independently assessed risk of bias in included studies using recommended checklists. A narrative analysis of the characteristics and results by type of intervention and levels of healthcare provision was conducted.Results A total of 19 studies, all undertaken in high-income countries, met inclusion criteria. Four intervention types were reported: collaborative care, self-management, telephone-based and antidepressant treatment. Most (14 of 19) interventions were implemented at the organisational level and were potentially cost-effective, particularly, the collaborative care for people with depressive disorder and diabetes, comorbid major depression and cancer and depression and multiple long-term conditions. Cost-effectiveness ranged from £206 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) for collaborative care programmes for older adults with diabetes and depression at primary care clinics (USA) to £79 723 per QALY for combining collaborative care with improved opportunistic screening for adults with depressive disorder and diabetes (England). Conclusions on cost-effectiveness were constrained by methodological aspects of the included studies: choice of perspectives, time horizon and costing methods.Conclusions Economic evaluations of inte
Mytton OT, Nicholls D, Saxena S, et al., 2023, Approach to a child or young person with concerns about excess weight., BMJ, Vol: 380
Lister NB, Baur LA, Paxton SJ, et al., 2023, Eating Disorders In weight-related Therapy (EDIT) Collaboration: rationale and study design., Nutrition Research Reviews, Pages: 1-11, ISSN: 0954-4224
The cornerstone of obesity treatment is behavioural weight management, resulting in significant improvements in cardio-metabolic and psychosocial health. However, there is ongoing concern that dietary interventions used for weight management may precipitate the development of eating disorders. Systematic reviews demonstrate that, while for most participants medically supervised obesity treatment improves risk scores related to eating disorders, a subset of people who undergo obesity treatment may have poor outcomes for eating disorders. This review summarises the background and rationale for the formation of the Eating Disorders In weight-related Therapy (EDIT) Collaboration. The EDIT Collaboration will explore the complex risk factor interactions that precede changes to eating disorder risk following weight management. In this review, we also outline the programme of work and design of studies for the EDIT Collaboration, including expected knowledge gains. The EDIT studies explore risk factors and the interactions between them using individual-level data from international weight management trials. Combining all available data on eating disorder risk from weight management trials will allow sufficient sample size to interrogate our hypothesis: that individuals undertaking weight management interventions will vary in their eating disorder risk profile, on the basis of personal characteristics and intervention strategies available to them. The collaboration includes the integration of health consumers in project development and translation. An important knowledge gain from this project is a comprehensive understanding of the impact of weight management interventions on eating disorder risk.
Fuller SJ, Tan J, Nicholls D, 2023, Decision-making and best practice when nasogastric tube feeding under restraint: multi-informant qualitative study, BJPSYCH OPEN, Vol: 9, ISSN: 2056-4724
Nicholls D, 2023, A perfect storm - how and why eating disorders in young people have thrived in lockdown and what is happening to address it, JOURNAL OF CHILD PSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHIATRY, Vol: 64, Pages: 335-338, ISSN: 0021-9630
Hofer S, Otis M, Barber S, et al., 2023, Evaluating the implementation and impact of a new model of care for integrating children and young people’s acute mental healthcare in a paediatric setting: A protocol for a realist, mixed methods approach, BMJ Open, Vol: 13, Pages: 1-9, ISSN: 2044-6055
IntroductionThe mental health of children and young people in the UK has been declining, and has continued to worsen throughout the pandemic, leading to an increase in mental health related emergencies. In response, the Best for You programme was developed as a new service designed to integrate mental health care for children and young people between acute hospital and community services. The programme is comprised of four new services: a rapid assessment young people’s centre with dual trained staff, a co-located day service offering family-based care and a digital hub, designed to integrate with the fourth element of the model, namely community support and mental health services. This evaluation aims to assess the development, implementation and outcomes of the Best for You programme and develop a scalable model that could be implemented in other parts of the National Health Service (NHS).Methods and analysisThis mixed-methods realist evaluation aims to delineate the components of the system to assess their interdependent relationships within a wider context. Data collection will include interviews, participant observations, focus group discussions and the collection of local quantitative service data. The research will be conducted across four phases. Phase 1-captures the development of the underlying programme theory. Phase 2-a process evaluation testing the programme theory. Phase 3- an outcome and economic evaluation. Phase 4-consolidatation of learning from phases 1-3 to identify barriers, facilitators, and wider contextual factors that have shaped implementation drawing on the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval for the evaluation was received from the NHS local ethics committee. Embedded within the evaluation is a formative review to feedback and share learning with stakeholders to scale-up the programme. Findings from this study will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals as well as presentat
Ezquerra B, Alacreu-Crespo A, Peñuelas-Calvo I, et al., 2023, Characteristics of single vs. multiple suicide attempters among adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis, European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, ISSN: 1018-8827
There might be differential characteristics between those who have attempted suicide once in their lifetime (single attempters) and those who have attempted suicide two or more times (multiple attempters). We aimed to identify the factors that differentiate single and multiple attempters in child and adolescents. This study was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, and the review protocol was registered in PROSPERO. We conducted a systematic literature search in three databases to identify original studies exploring the characteristics of single attempters vs. multiple attempters among adolescents. We considered a wide range for the definition of adolescent, following most recent recommendations: 10–24 years. We carried out a meta-analysis. Fourteen studies were included in the systematic review and 13 in the meta-analysis with a total sample of with a total of 4286 participants. The factors statistically significantly associated with being a multiple attempter in the meta-analysis were: anxiety disorders, depression severity, alcohol abuse, substance abuse, aggressiveness, and hopelessness. Multiple attempters have a more severe clinical profile, with greater severity of symptoms. Knowledge of the risk factors associated with being a multiple attempter could help us to predict which patients are more likely to reattempt suicide and need further monitoring and a tailored treatment. Prevention programs tailored for the adolescent population, along with identification of early risk factors, could help to prevent suicidal behavior among this vulnerable population.
Jebeile H, Lister NB, Libesman S, et al., 2023, Eating disorders in weight-related therapy (EDIT): Protocol for a systematic review with individual participant data meta-analysis of eating disorder risk in behavioural weight management., PLoS One, Vol: 18
The Eating Disorders In weight-related Therapy (EDIT) Collaboration brings together data from randomised controlled trials of behavioural weight management interventions to identify individual participant risk factors and intervention strategies that contribute to eating disorder risk. We present a protocol for a systematic review and individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis which aims to identify participants at risk of developing eating disorders, or related symptoms, during or after weight management interventions conducted in adolescents or adults with overweight or obesity. We systematically searched four databases up to March 2022 and clinical trials registries to May 2022 to identify randomised controlled trials of weight management interventions conducted in adolescents or adults with overweight or obesity that measured eating disorder risk at pre- and post-intervention or follow-up. Authors from eligible trials have been invited to share their deidentified IPD. Two IPD meta-analyses will be conducted. The first IPD meta-analysis aims to examine participant level factors associated with a change in eating disorder scores during and following a weight management intervention. To do this we will examine baseline variables that predict change in eating disorder risk within intervention arms. The second IPD meta-analysis aims to assess whether there are participant level factors that predict whether participation in an intervention is more or less likely than no intervention to lead to a change in eating disorder risk. To do this, we will examine if there are differences in predictors of eating disorder risk between intervention and no-treatment control arms. The primary outcome will be a standardised mean difference in global eating disorder score from baseline to immediately post-intervention and at 6- and 12- months follow-up. Identifying participant level risk factors predicting eating disorder risk will inform screening and monitoring protocols to al
Cortese S, Besag FMC, Clark B, et al., 2022, Common practical questions - and answers - at the British Association for Psychopharmacology child and adolescent psychopharmacology course, Journal of Psychopharmacology, Vol: 37, Pages: 119-134, ISSN: 0269-8811
The British Association for Psychopharmacology course on child and adolescent psychopharmacology has been run for more than 20 years and is currently a very popular course, attracting around 140 delegates/year from across the United Kingdom and abroad. As Faculty of recent sessions of the course, we have selected the most common questions we have been asked in recent years and provided evidence-based and/or expert-informed answers. We have included 27 questions and answers related to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depressive disorders, autism spectrum disorder, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, epilepsy (in differential diagnosis or comorbid with mental health conditions), obsessive-compulsive disorder, personality disorders, psychotic spectrum disorders, and tics/Tourette syndrome in children and young people. We hope that this article will be helpful for prescribers in their daily clinical practice and we look forward to further, high-level evidence informing the answers to these and other questions in child and adolescent psychopharmacology.
Greenfield G, 2022, A systematic review of interventions that use multidisciplinary team meetings to manage multimorbidity in primary care, International Journal of Integrated Care, Vol: 22, Pages: 1-10, ISSN: 1568-4156
Introduction: Multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings could facilitate coordination of care for individuals living with multimorbidity, yet there is limited evidence on their effectiveness. We hence explored the common characteristics of MDT meetings in primary care and assessed the effectiveness of interventions that include such meetings, designed to improve outcomes for adults living with multimorbidity.Methods: A systematic review of literature was conducted using MEDLINE and EMBASE. A narrative synthesis was performed, extracting study and MDT meeting characteristics, in addition to any outcomes reported.Results: Four randomised controlled trials that were conducted in the United States of America were identified as eligible, recruiting a total of 3,509 adults living with multimorbidity. Common MDT meeting themes include regular frequency of discussion, the absence of patient involvement and the participation of three or four multiprofessionals. Significant improvements were observed in response to interventions with an MDT component across most measures, yet this trend did not extend to physical health outcomes. Discussion: It is unclear if the results in this review are sufficient to support the widespread implementation of MDT meetings in primary care, for adults living with multimorbidity. Due to the paucity of studies collated, further research is required to inform widespread implementation.
Brakspear L, Boules D, Nicholls D, et al., 2022, The impact of COVID-19-related living restrictions on eating behaviours in children and adolescents: a systematic review, Nutrients, Vol: 14, Pages: 1-20, ISSN: 2072-6643
The COVID-19 pandemic prompted the imposition of physical and social distancing measures worldwide. Emerging data suggest that younger age groups may be particularly vulnerable to the adverse mental health impacts of the pandemic. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an unprecedented increase in demand for child and adolescent eating disorder services. The aim of this review was to systematically review and appraise the current literature on the impact of COVID-19-related living restrictions on the eating behaviours of children and adolescents. Searches of eight electronic databases were conducted in March 2021 and December 2021 for published and grey literature on eating behaviours of population samples of children and adolescents (aged 18 months to 18 years old) who were exposed to COVID-19-related living restrictions. Of 3165 retrieved references, sixteen studies were included in this review, comprising data from 125, 286 participants. There was a pattern towards healthier eating behaviours among children and adolescents during the COVID-19 lockdown. However, young people from lower socioeconomic groups showed a tendency towards more unhealthy eating behaviours, and there was an association between mood difficulties and greater changes in eating; this suggests that such groups may be more vulnerable to the adverse health consequences of lockdowns.
Pascual-Sanchez A, Mateu A, Martinez-Herves M, et al., 2022, How are parenting practices associated with bullying in adolescents? A cross-sectional study, CHILD AND ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH, Vol: 27, Pages: 223-231, ISSN: 1475-357X
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- Citations: 4
Halls D, Leppanen J, Kerr-Gaffney J, et al., 2022, Examining the relationship between autistic spectrum disorder characteristics and structural brain differences seen in anorexia nervosa, EUROPEAN EATING DISORDERS REVIEW, Vol: 30, Pages: 459-473, ISSN: 1072-4133
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- Citations: 1
Rosello R, Gledhill J, Yi I, et al., 2022, Recognition and duration of illness in adolescent eating disorders: Parental perceptions of symptom onset, EARLY INTERVENTION IN PSYCHIATRY, Vol: 16, Pages: 854-861, ISSN: 1751-7885
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- Citations: 2
Cicek M, Hayhoe B, Otis M, et al., 2022, Depression and unplanned secondary healthcare use in patients with multimorbidity: a systematic review, PLoS One, Vol: 17, ISSN: 1932-6203
Background:Growing numbers of people with multimorbidity have a co-occurring mental health condition such as depression. Co-occurring depression is associated with poor patient outcomes and increased healthcare costs including unplanned use of secondary healthcare which may be avoidable.Aim:To summarise the current evidence on the association between depression and unplanned secondary healthcare use among patients with multimorbidity.Methods:We conducted a systematic review by searching MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsychINFO, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library from January 2000 to March 2021. We included studies on adults with depression and at least one other physical long-term condition that examined risk of emergency hospital admissions as a primary outcome, alongside emergency department visits or emergency readmissions. Studies were assessed for risk of bias using The National Institute of Health National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute quality assessment tool. Relevant data were extracted from studies and a narrative synthesis of findings produced.Results:Twenty observational studies were included in the review. Depression was significantly associated with different outcomes of unplanned secondary healthcare use, across various comorbidities. Among the studies examining these outcomes, depression predicted emergency department visits in 7 out of 9 studies; emergency hospital admissions in 19 out of 20 studies; and emergency readmissions in 4 out of 4 studies. This effect increased with greater severity of depression. Other predictors of unplanned secondary care reported include increased age, being female, and presence of greater numbers of comorbidities.Conclusion:Depression predicted increased risk of unplanned secondary healthcare use in individuals with multimorbidity. The literature indicates a research gap in identifying and understanding the impact of complex multimorbidity combinations, and other patient characteristics on unplanned care in patients wit
Viner R, Russell S, Saulle R, et al., 2022, School Closures During Social Lockdown and Mental Health, Health Behaviors, and Well-being Among Children and Adolescents During the First COVID-19 Wave A Systematic Review, JAMA PEDIATRICS, Vol: 176, Pages: 400-409, ISSN: 2168-6203
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- Citations: 200
Batchelor R, Cribben H, Macdonald P, et al., 2022, The experiential perspectives of siblings and partners caring for a loved one with an eating disorder in the UK, BJPSYCH OPEN, Vol: 8, ISSN: 2056-4724
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- Citations: 2
Hudson LD, Chapman S, Street KN, et al., 2022, Increased admissions to paediatric wards with a primary mental health diagnosis: results of a survey of a network of eating disorder paediatricians in England, ARCHIVES OF DISEASE IN CHILDHOOD, Vol: 107, Pages: 309-+, ISSN: 0003-9888
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- Citations: 6
Osmanov IM, Spiridonova E, Bobkova P, et al., 2022, Risk factors for long covid in previoulsy hospitalsied children using the ISARIC Global Follow-Up Protocol: a prospective cohort study, European Respiratory Journal, Vol: 59, ISSN: 0903-1936
Background The long-term sequelae of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in children remain poorly characterised. This study aimed to assess long-term outcomes in children previously hospitalised with Covid-19 and associated risk factors.Methods This is a prospective cohort study of children (≤18 years old) admitted with confirmed Covid-19. Children admitted to the hospital between April 2, 2020 and August 26, 2020, were included. Telephone interview using the International Severe Acute Respiratory and emerging Infection Consortium (ISARIC) Covid-19 Health and Wellbeing paediatric follow-up survey. Persistent symptoms (>5 months) were further categorised by system(s) involved.Findings 518 of 853 (61%) of eligible children were available for the follow-up assessment and included in the study. Median age was 10.4 years (IQR, 3–15.2) and 270 (52.1%) were girls; median follow-up since hospital discharge was 256 (223–271) days. At the time of the follow-up interview 126 (24.3%) participants reported persistent symptoms among which fatigue (53, 10.7%), sleep disturbance (36, 6.9%,) and sensory problems (29, 5.6%) were the most common. Multiple symptoms were experienced by 44 (8.4%) participants. Risk factors for persistent symptoms were: older age “6–11 years” (odds ratio 2.74 (95% confidence interval 1.37 to 5.75) and “12–18 years” (2.68, 1.41 to 5.4); and a history of allergic diseases (1.67, 1.04 to 2.67).Interpretation A quarter of children experienced persistent symptoms months after hospitalization with acute covid-19 infection, with almost one in ten experiencing multi-system involvement. Older age and allergic diseases were associated with higher risk of persistent symptoms at follow-up.
Hayhoe BW, Powell RA, Barber S, et al., 2022, Impact of COVID-19 on individuals with multimorbidity in primary care, British Journal of General Practice, Vol: 72, Pages: 38-39, ISSN: 0960-1643
Pascual-Sanchez A, Nicholls D, 2022, Cyberbullying in young people, Shaping the Future of Child and Adolescent Mental Health: Towards Technological Advances and Service Innovations, Pages: 33-56, ISBN: 9780323917100
Widespread technology use has opened the door to alternative forms of aggression and victimization, such as cyberbullying. This type of bullying poses specific risks, since it can occur anytime and in different contexts, as well as being anonymous and with capacity to reach a wide audience and be less visible to adults. Several individual and contextual factors have been identified as protective and risk factors, and potential impacts in mental health (as either externalizing or internalizing problems, as well as impairment in functioning) are well documented. Awareness of cyberbullying is key to a proper assessment of this problem, which needs to address a number of areas, including understanding the type of cyberbullying, family and school factors, and mental health. Early intervention is needed when bullying is recognized, as well as preventative strategies and therapeutic interventions, which may take place at an individual level, or involve home and school. Clinical and policy implications are discussed.
Jesuthasan J, Powell R, Burmester V, et al., 2021, “We weren't checked in on, nobody spoke to us”: An exploratory qualitative analysis of two focus groups on the concerns of ethnic minority NHS staff during COVID-19, BMJ Open, Vol: 12, Pages: 1-8, ISSN: 2044-6055
Objective:To gain exploratory insights into the multi-faceted, lived-experience impact of COVID-19 on a small sample of ethnic minority healthcare staff to co-create a module of questions for follow-up online surveys on the wellbeing of healthcare staff during the pandemic. Design:A cross-sectional design using two online focus groups among ethnic minority healthcare workers who worked in care or supportive roles in a hospital, community health or GP surgery setting for at least 12 months.ParticipantsThirteen healthcare workers (11 female) aged 26 to 62 years from diverse ethnic minority backgrounds, eleven working in clinical roles.Results:Five primary thematic domains emerged: 1) viral vulnerability, centring around perceived individual risk and vulnerability perceptions; 2) risk assessment, comprising of pressures to comply, perception of a tick-box exercise, and issues with risk and resource stratification; 3) interpersonal relations in the workplace, highlighting deficient consultation of ethnic minority staff, cultural insensitivity, need for support, and collegiate judgement; 4) lived experience of racial inequality, consisting of job insecurity and the exacerbation of systemic racism and its emotional burden; 5) community attitudes, including public prejudice and judgement, and patient appreciation.Conclusions:Our novel study has shown ethnic minority NHS staff have experienced COVID-19 in a complex, multi-dimensional manner. Future research with a larger sample should further examine the complexity of these experiences and should enumerate the extent to which these varied thematic experiences are shared among ethnic minority NHS workers so that more empathetic and supportive management and related occupational practices can be instituted.
Douglass H, Spriggs MJ, Park RJ, et al., 2021, Study protocol: psilocybin as a treatment for anorexia nervosa: a pilot study, 34th European-College-of-Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP) Congress on Early Career Scientists in Europe, Publisher: ELSEVIER, Pages: S257-S258, ISSN: 0924-977X
Powell RA, Lakhani S, Alter M, et al., 2021, COVID-19’s impact on neglected pharmaceutical staff: wake-up call for needed research, Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice, Vol: 14, ISSN: 2052-3211
Discussion of the necessity of the compulsory vaccination of UK patient-facing care workers as an employment conditionality has defected from the initial and ongoing impact of Coronavirus disease on relatively neglected occupational groups themselves, including community pharmacists. This commentary highlights the relative lack of researchinvestigating the mental health and wellbeing impact of the pandemic on this occupational group in England andurges further study of their needs and experiences to inform evidence-based supportive psychological interventions
Cribben H, Macdonald P, Treasure J, et al., 2021, The experiential perspectives of parents caring for a loved one with a restrictive eating disorder in the UK, BJPsych Open, Vol: 7, Pages: 1-7, ISSN: 2056-4724
BackgroundParents of a loved one with an eating disorder report high levels of unmet needs. Research is needed to understand whether clinical guidance designed to improve the experience of parents has been effective.AimsTo establish parents’ experiential perspectives of eating disorder care in the UK, compared with guidance published by Beat, a UK eating disorders charity, and Academy for Eating Disorders, the leading international eating disorders professional association.MethodA total of six focus groups (one online and five face-to-face) were held throughout the UK. A total of 32 parents attended. All participants were parents of a loved one with a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa or atypical anorexia nervosa (mean age 22 years; mean duration of illness 4.4 years). Focus groups were transcribed, and the text was analysed with an inductive approach, to identify emerging themes.ResultsFour key themes were identified: (a) impact of eating disorder on one's life, (b) current service provisions, (c) navigating the transition process and (d) suggestions for improvement.ConclusionsCurrent experiences of parents in the UK do not align with the guidelines published by Beat and Academy of Eating Disorders. Parents identified a number of changes that healthcare providers could make, including improved information and support for parents, enhanced training of professionals, consistent care across all UK service providers, policy changes and greater involvement of families in their loved one's care. Findings from this project informed the design of a national web-survey on loved ones’ experience of care in eating disorders.
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