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Difficulties in family functioning and adolescent anorexia nervosa

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Simon G. Gowers  and
Clive North
Simon G. Gowers*
Affiliation:
Academic Unit, Young People's Centre, Chester
Clive North
Affiliation:
North Essex Child & Family Consultation Service, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex
*
Professor S. Gowers, Academic Unit, Young People's Centre, Pine Lodge, 79 Liverpool Road, Chester CH2 1AW
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Abstract

Background

Difficulties in family functioning are often evident when an adolescent has anorexia nervosa, and the possible causative or contributory role of such difficulties in the illness is unclear.

Aims

To elucidate the relationship between severity of anorexia nervosa and difficulties in family functioning and whether clinical improvement results in diminution of self-rated family difficulties.

Method

Thirty-five adolescents with anorexia nervosa and their mothers completed the Family Assessment Device (FAD) while clinicians administered the McMaster's Structured Interview of Family Functioning (McSIFF). Severity of anorexia nervosa was rated at baseline and at one year follow-up using the Morgan–Russell Schedule.

Results

Clinicians and patients were more critical of the families' functioning than parents. There was an inverse association between the extent of family difficulties and severity of anorexia nervosa. Over time subjects improved clinically but this was not matched by improvement in family functioning.

Conclusions

Difficulties in family functioning do not appear to be directly associated with severity of anorexia nervosa nor do these difficulties reduce with clinical improvement, in the short term.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 174 , Issue 1 , January 1999 , pp. 63 - 66
Copyright
Copyright © 1999 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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Footnotes

Declaration of interest

This study was supported by a grant from the North West Regional Health Authority.

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