OBJECTIVE: This exploratory study focuses on the mental health (MH) and caregiving experience of carers of adolescents with Bulimia Nervosa (BN)/Eating Disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS), aiming to determine: levels of MH problems in carers and if a negative experience of caregiving predicts carer MH status and which factors predict a negative experience of caregiving. METHOD: Hundred and twelve carers and 68 adolescents with BN/EDNOS completed self-report measures (General Health Questionnaire, Experience of Caregiving Inventory, Level of Expressed Emotion, Self-report Family Inventory, Inventory of Interpersonal Problems). RESULTS: Over half of the carers reported some MH problems and a minority (5.4%) were experiencing considerable difficulties. A negative experience of caregiving predicted carer MH status. Higher weekly contact hours and patient ratings of expressed emotion (EE) predicted a negative experience of caregiving. CONCLUSIONS: Interventions focusing on reducing EE and contact hours could prove beneficial for both patient and caregiver outcomes.
Journal article
2007-03-01T00:00:00+00:00
40
171 - 178
7
Adolescent, Bulimia Nervosa, Caregivers, Child Abuse, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Comorbidity, Cost-Benefit Analysis, Expressed Emotion, Family Relations, Family Therapy, Feeding and Eating Disorders, Female, Humans, Male, Mental Disorders, Personality Inventory, Self Care, Statistics as Topic