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Aouad P, Janssen A, Corry S, Spielman K, Gonzalez-Arce V, Bryant E, Simeone R, Shaw T, Maguire S. Educating primary care physicians about eating disorders: Pilot data from a microlearning programme. EUROPEAN EATING DISORDERS REVIEW 2024; 32:687-699. [PMID: 38416595 DOI: 10.1002/erv.3074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Over two-thirds of people present to their primary care physician (or general practitioner; GP) as a first point of contact for mental health concerns. However, eating disorders (EDs) are often not identified in a primary care setting. A significant barrier to early detection and intervention is lack of primary care physician training in EDs; compounded by the significant time commitments required for training by already time-poor general practitioners. The aim of the current study was to pilot and evaluate a microlearning programme that can be delivered to general practitioners with high workloads to help support patients with, or at risk of, developing an ED. METHODS Fifty-one Australian general practitioners aged between 25-to-60 years old were recruited. Participants completed a baseline questionnaire to ascertain their experience working in general practice and with EDs. Participants then completed an online programme consisting of a series of 10 case studies (vignettes) delivered over a 6-10 week period related to various facets of ED care. Following conclusion of the programme, participants were asked to complete an evaluative questionnaire related to the content of the programme; perceived knowledge, confidence, willingness-to-treat, skill change; and their overall experience of microlearning. RESULTS All 51 GPs completed the programme and reached completion criteria for all vignettes, 40 of whom completed the programme evaluation. Participants indicated improved skill, confidence, willingness-to-treat, and knowledge following the completion of the pilot programme. Almost all (97.5%; n = 39) found microlearning to be an effective method to learn about EDs; with 87.5% (n = 35) of participants reporting they felt able to apply what was learnt in practice. Qualitative feedback highlighted the benefit of microlearning's flexibility to train general practitioners to work with complex health presentations, specifically EDs. CONCLUSIONS Findings from the current study lend support to the use of microlearning in medical health professional training; notably around complex mental health concerns. Microlearning appears to be an acceptable and effective training method for GPs to learn about EDs. Given the significant time demands on GPs and the resulting challenges in designing appropriate training for this part of the workforce, this training method has promise. The pre-existing interest in EDs in the current study sample was high; future studies should sample more broadly to ensure that microlearning can be applied at scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phillip Aouad
- InsideOut Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney, Australia
| | - Anna Janssen
- Research in Implementation Science and EHealth (RISe) Group (Faculty of Medicine and Health), The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Sally Corry
- InsideOut Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney, Australia
| | - Karen Spielman
- InsideOut Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney, Australia
| | - Veronica Gonzalez-Arce
- InsideOut Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney, Australia
- NSW Health, Sydney, Australia
| | - Emma Bryant
- InsideOut Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney, Australia
| | - Rachel Simeone
- InsideOut Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney, Australia
| | - Tim Shaw
- Research in Implementation Science and EHealth (RISe) Group (Faculty of Medicine and Health), The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Sarah Maguire
- InsideOut Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney, Australia
- NSW Health, Sydney, Australia
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Rodgers RF, Gordon AR, Burke NL, Ciao A. Parents and caregivers as key players in the prevention and identification of body image concerns and eating disorders among early adolescents. Eat Disord 2024:1-24. [PMID: 38913912 DOI: 10.1080/10640266.2024.2366546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
Early adolescence (ages 11-14 years) is a key period for the emergence of body image and eating concerns, and early identification and access to treatment are imperative for positive outcomes. Despite research identifying this critical developmental period, few prevention resources are available for early adolescents. Parents are key players for this age group and important socializing agents. As such, they are well positioned to help youth access resources or support where needed. However, programs to position and involve parents as interventionists are lacking. Our aims are two-fold. First, we review the evidence for the effectiveness of parents as body image interventionists and the existing data regarding parental needs. Second, we provide directions for future research and outline a framework for empowering parents as interventionists, identifying key domains in which parents may play a role in addressing body image and eating concerns among early adolescents. Based on the extent literature, these domains include facilitating engagement with or co-utilizing intervention content to decrease body image and eating concerns in at-risk children, which may also help to increase parents' effectiveness in their efforts to support youth. In addition, parents may deliver content to decrease or reverse risk-factors and early symptoms, or disrupt the early disorder phase of illness. To date, parents constitute an underutilized resource in eating disorder and disordered eating prevention, and efforts should be made to increase the evidence-based strategies to leverage their relationship with at-risk children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel F Rodgers
- APPEAR, Department of Applied Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Psychiatric Emergency & Acute Care, Lapeyronie Hospital, CHRU Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Allegra R Gordon
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Division of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Natasha L Burke
- Department of Psychology, Fordham University, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Anna Ciao
- Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington, USA
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Marchetti D, Sawrikar V. Parents' illness representations of their child with anorexia nervosa: A systematic review of qualitative studies using the common-sense model. Int J Eat Disord 2024; 57:1049-1068. [PMID: 37916901 DOI: 10.1002/eat.24081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Research indicates that parents experience distress while caring for a child with anorexia nervosa. Applying the Common Sense Model of Self-Regulation (CSM), a framework to describe responses to illness may help to understand the antecedents of parental distress, which could inform how to support parents in treatment. The aim of this systematic review was to synthesize outcomes from qualitative research in relation to parents' experiences of caring for a child with anorexia nervosa using the CSM. METHOD Systematic search of four electronic databases (psychINFO, MEDLINE, EMBASE, ProQuest Dissertation, and Theses Database) alongside a two-way screening process was used to identify eligible studies. Qualitative themes were synthesized using a "best fit" framework analysis and reported according to CSM dimensions of cognitive and emotional illness representations. RESULTS A total of 32 studies published between 1970 and 2023 were eligible for inclusion for review. Parents perceived their child's anorexia nervosa as a major health threat observable by illness representations that anorexia nervosa was uncontrollable, incomprehensible, chronic, and associated with negative consequences. The themes also suggested parents take responsibility for causing anorexia nervosa. These illness representations were linked with emotional representations of fear, anxiety, shame, guilt, loneliness, and depression. CONCLUSIONS The findings provide evidence of the utility of using the CSM to understand the antecedents of parents' distress and negative impacts of caring for a child with anorexia nervosa. Recommendations for future research and clinical practice are discussed emphasizing the need to understand parents' perceptions of their child's illness to putatively maximize treatment benefits for families. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE This review emphasizes the salience of understanding parents distress while caring for a child with anorexia nervosa. The findings present opportunities to best support parents in treatment, with a focus on addressing their cognitive and emotional representations of their child's illness. A multicomponent treatment regimen may be required to support parents if they present with illness representations that negatively affect their well-being and ability to cope with distress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doriana Marchetti
- School of Health in Social Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Department of Clinical Psychology, NHS Grampian, UK
| | - Vilas Sawrikar
- School of Health in Social Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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Johnson-Munguia S, Negi S, Chen Y, Thomeczek ML, Forbush KT. Eating disorder psychopathology, psychiatric impairment, and symptom frequency of atypical anorexia nervosa versus anorexia nervosa: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Eat Disord 2024; 57:761-779. [PMID: 37317625 DOI: 10.1002/eat.23989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Restrictive eating disorders (EDs) occur across the weight spectrum, but historically more focus has been given to anorexia nervosa (AN) than atypical anorexia nervosa (atypAN). AtypAN's relegation to a diagnosis in the "other specified feeding and eating disorder" (OSFED) category and paucity of research surrounding atypAN invariably implies a less clinically severe ED. However, a growing body of research has begun to question the assumption that atypAN is less severe than AN. The current review and meta-analysis aimed to provide a comprehensive review to compare atypAN and AN on measures of eating disorder psychopathology, impairment, and symptom frequency to test whether atypAN is truly less clinically severe than AN. METHODS Twenty articles that reported on atypAN and AN for at least one of the variables of interest were retrieved from PsycInfo, PubMed, and ProQuest. RESULTS For eating-disorder psychopathology, results indicated that differences were nonsignificant for most indicators; however, atypAN was associated with significantly higher shape concern, weight concern, drive for thinness, body dissatisfaction, and overall eating-disorder psychopathology than AN. Results indicated that atypAN and AN did not significantly differ on clinical impairment or the frequency of inappropriate compensatory behaviors, whereas there was a significantly higher frequency of objective binge episodes in AN (vs. atypAN). DISCUSSION Overall, findings indicated that, in contrast to the current classification system, atypAN and AN were not clinically distinct. Results underscore the need for equal access to treatment and equal insurance coverage for restrictive EDs across the weight spectrum. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE The current meta-analysis found that atypAN was associated with higher drive for thinness, body dissatisfaction, shape concern, weight concern, and overall eating-disorder psychopathology than AN; whereas AN was associated with higher frequency of objective binge eating. Individuals with AN and atypAN did not differ on psychiatric impairment, quality-of-life, or frequency of compensatory behaviors, highlighting the need for equal access to care for restrictive EDs across the weight spectrum.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sonakshi Negi
- Department of Psychology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
| | - Yiyang Chen
- Department of Psychology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
| | | | - Kelsie T Forbush
- Department of Psychology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
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Ranzenhofer LM, Jablonski M, Davis L, Posner J, Walsh BT, Steinglass JE. Early Course of Symptom Development in Anorexia Nervosa. J Adolesc Health 2022; 71:587-593. [PMID: 35973892 PMCID: PMC10375485 DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2022.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Anorexia nervosa (AN) commonly begins in adolescence; however, detailed knowledge of symptom trajectories, including their temporal sequence, is less well elucidated. The purpose of the present study is to describe the onset and duration of disordered eating behaviors prior to a diagnosis of AN, examine concordance between child and parent report, and examine the relationships between timing of symptom onset and illness severity. METHODS Seventy-one adolescents (ages 12-18 years) and their parents were interviewed about dieting, restriction, loss of control/binge eating, purging, excessive/compulsive exercise, weight history, and amenorrhea. Body mass index percentiles were calculated, and adolescents completed the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire. RESULTS Restriction, being underweight, dieting, and excessive exercise were reported by most of the sample; purging, loss-of-control eating, and having been overweight were reported by less than a third. Dieting typically emerged first, on average around age 14; the remainder of behaviors tended to emerge between ages 14 and 14½; and average age of formal diagnosis was slightly over 15 years. Dyads had good agreement regarding presence and timing of all behaviors except for dieting, for which children reported about 6 months earlier onset/longer duration, compared to parents. Although older age at interview was associated with lower body mass index percentile and higher EDE-Q score, neither age of onset nor duration was associated with severity when controlling for current age. DISCUSSION Teens and parents describe a similar sequence of behavior changes leading up to a diagnosis of AN that typically begins with dieting and occurs over an approximate 1- to 1½-year period. Querying teens and parents about eating behavior changes may aid in identification and early intervention in AN; adolescents with normal weight who engage in persistent dieting or restrictive eating may warrant more frequent weight monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M Ranzenhofer
- Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute (NYSPI), New York, New York; Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC), New York, New York.
| | - Monica Jablonski
- Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute (NYSPI), New York, New York
| | - Lauren Davis
- Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute (NYSPI), New York, New York; Department of Psychology, Rutgers University, Highland Park, New Jersey
| | - Jonathan Posner
- Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute (NYSPI), New York, New York; Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC), New York, New York; Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - B Timothy Walsh
- Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute (NYSPI), New York, New York; Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC), New York, New York
| | - Joanna E Steinglass
- Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute (NYSPI), New York, New York; Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC), New York, New York
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