Written by a mother whose daughter suffers from an eating disorder, Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa is a supportive, helpful guide for families of those with eating disorders. Framed by the personal story of Gráinne Smith and her daughter, the book describes the onset and symptoms of the two disorders, as well as the typical situations family and caregivers can expect on the long road to helping the sufferer to recover. Readers will learn about the effects on family life, in particular the common feelings of isolation and helplessness, and get strategies for coping and finding more information and assistance.

When anorexia nervosa strikes an individual and her family, everyone is thrown into confusion by the mixture of emotions that emerge. One of the strongest is fear. The fear arises partially because so much is unknown. What has caused this to happen? What will happen now? What can we do about it? This book is an attempt to answer some of these questions. Unusually for a book on anorexia nervosa, this book includes sections for parents and other carers alongside a section for the sufferer herself. So often books have been written which only give one perspective. In her work with patients and families Janet Treasure has tried to ensure that family and professionals collaborate and co-operate in order to overcome the power of the illness. Many families have used and commented on various versions of this book, and have helped to form its content. Experiences and problems have been shared, and solutions generated. Anorexia nervosa is a difficult illness to experience and write about because it spans such an extreme range of severity and it can also develop in childhood and adulthood. Nevertheless, there is much common ground throughout the range. Readers are therefore encouraged to use this book as a tool box rather than a new engine and to ask the questions, 'Is this part relevant for me?', 'Can I use it?', 'Shall I try it?', rather than trying to fit it all into place and expecting it to run smoothly.

Katie Metcalfe takes readers through the daily struggle with this potentially lethal obsession. It is a harrowing account of her triumphs and tragedies on the long road to recovery after being hospitalized at 15. We learn of Katie's constant battle with 'the voice' when her pride at improving her health is overshadowed by the fear of over eating. It is a story of a young girl at war with herself and anyone who fights to keep her alive. However, Katie Metcalfe's book is more than a personal journey - it is the story of the impact of her illness on her family. With remarkable candour Katie's parents and siblings tell of the shocking impact on close relatives - when anorexia creates a stranger in the family. Katie's honesty combined with her talent for writing, gives a real sense of the horror of anorexia and its power to dominate lives. It is a true account of a family's hard won victory over a disease that kills.

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate family interaction of a child with bulimia nervosa. While eating disorder is a wild concern issue in Taiwan, most research focus on anorexia nervosa rather than bulimia nervosa. There are four major themes in current research area in Taiwan. First theme is to explore risk factors for eating disorder. Second one is to investigate the process of psychological recovery. The next one is to evaluate the effects of intervention and treatment. Final one is to discuss social influence on womenu2019s body image. However, regardless the importance of family relationship for child of eating disorder has been documented in family therapy literature, .data were often collected from single family member. Without multiple family membersu2019 perspectives, it is difficult to understand eating disorder within relational context. Method: This study employed a narrative inquiry and interviewed two pairs of sisters from two families. Individual participants were interviewed but data were analyzed at both individual level and dyadic level.Findings: The major results are as follows: 1. Characteristics of family with bulimia nervosa children: (1) Inconsistency between within and outside of the family: presenting intimacy images outside of the family but among family members, stress and conflict were avoided. (2) The bulimia nervosa child suffered from dilemma between being independent and being intimated with parents. 2. The impact of bulimia nervosa on family interaction at different family level: (1) Couple subsystem: Spouses relationships were transformed from being distant to being close; (2) Parental subsystem: Parents were more tolerant the bulimia nervosa daughter, and allied with the child who functioned better; (3) Parent-child subsystem: Children were close to their mother and took care of fatheru2019s emotions; (4) Siblings subsystem: The sister relationships were changed from competing for family resources to being understanding and supportive for each other. Discussion: Implications for future studies on bulimia nervosa and family therapy would be discussed.

This indispensable manual presents the leading empirically supported treatment approach for adolescents with anorexia nervosa (AN). What sets family-based treatment apart is the central role played by parents and siblings throughout therapy. The book gives practitioners a clear framework for mobilizing parents to promote their child's weight restoration and healthy eating; improving parent/n-/child relationships; and getting adolescent development back on track. Each phase of therapy is described in session-by-session detail. In-depth case illustrations show how to engage clients while flexibly implementing the validated treatment procedures. New to This Edition *Reflects the latest knowledge on AN and its treatment, including additional research supporting the approach. *Clarifies key concepts and techniques. *Chapter on emerging directions in training and treatment dissemination. *Many new clinical strategies.

The highly respected and widely known Anorexia Nervosa: A Survival Guide for Sufferers and Friends was written in 1997. This long-awaited new edition builds on the work of the first book, providing essential new and updated research outcomes on anorexia nervosa. It offers a unique insight and guidance into the recovery process for those who suffer from an eating disorder as well as advice and information for their loved ones. Written collaboratively by both an expert in the field and someone with personal experience of eating disorders, this book offers exceptional understanding of the issues surrounding the illness. Divided into four sections, it includes: an outline of anorexia nervosa coping strategies for sufferers advice and information for families, carers and friends guidelines for professionals who are involved in the sufferer’s life. Families, friends, carers and professionals such as teachers and GPs are encouraged to read all sections in order to fully understand the illness. With an emphasis on collaboration and a layout that enables content to be referenced and read in any order, this book is an essential resource for anyone affected, directly or indirectly, by anorexia nervosa.

Young people develop anorexia because they are unhappy. In the process of becoming anorexic they silence themselves and distance themselves from parental support. Family therapy can help patients by improving their communication with their parents. Therapists can support parents in helping their children to find their voices. This book presents a review of the research evidence that has guided the development of family therapy for young people with anorexia. In addition, it presents the current evidence for a family model. A flexible model is proposed to meet different family scenarios and levels of treatment resistance. Greg Dring argues that the evidence indicates the need for an assertive approach to therapy, drawing on the full range of family therapy skills available, in order to re-instate a healthy relationship between parents and children. This book is intended for family therapists and other clinicians in Child and Mental Health Services who work with young people with anorexia.

Family-based treatment (FBT) for eating disorders is an outpatient therapy in which parents are utilized as the primary resource in treatment. The therapist supports the parents to do the work nurses would have done if the patient were hospitalized to an inpatient-refeeding unit, and are eventually tasked with encouraging the patient to resume normal adolescent development. In recent years many new adaptations of the FBT intervention have been developed for addressing the needs of special populations. This informative new volume chronicles these novel applications of FBT in a series of chapters authored by the leading clinicians and investigators who are pioneering each adaptation.

Thoroughly revised and updated with the latest research and methodologies, the fourth edition of the classic guide written specifically for parents, friends, and caregivers of individuals with eating disorders. For more than thirty years, this classic guide has been an essential resource for the “silent sufferers”—those affected by a loved one’s eating disorder. This revised edition put family and friends at the center of the treatment process, providing the latest information on the methods and practices available to facilitate the recovery process. Surviving an Eating Disorder is the first book for family and friends to use a psychological perspective to understand eating disorders. Other treatment manuals or self-help books propose change but Surviving is the first to consider why change can be so hard for everyone involved. The factors that can hinder progress are discussed and the methods that can work are emphasized. Illustrated with case examples, this fourth edition explains the latest treatments and provides the necessary tools to carefully evaluate what can be most effective for each reader’s individual care. The authors offer concrete advice and support, urging readers to care for both themselves and their relationships as they support their loved ones struggling with food and eating issues. With its combination of information, insight, and practical strategies, Surviving an Eating Disorder considers crisis as opportunity—a time for the possibility of hope and change for everyone involved.