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Family Functioning in Adolescent Anorexia Nervosa

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Clive North ,
Simon Gowers  and
Victoria Byram
Clive North*
Affiliation:
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Simon Gowers
Affiliation:
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Victoria Byram
Affiliation:
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
*
Dr Clive North, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Manchester, The Adolescent Unit, Bury New Road, Prestwich, Manchester M25 7BL
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Abstract

Background

Difficulties in family functioning have been noted since early descriptions of anorexia nervosa and may be of importance aetiologically. Previous studies have a number of methodological problems.

Method

Thirty-five anorexic adolescents were age/sex matched with psychiatric and community controls. A diagnostic interview and a questionnaire, the Family Assessment Device (FAD) were administered to control subjects and their mothers. Anorexic families only received the McMaster Structured Interview of Family Functioning.

Results

Multivariate analyses of FAD scores showed pathological ratings for psychiatric control but not anorexic families, compared with community controls. By contrast objective ratings revealed marked dysfunction in anorexic families (greater in the purging subgroup).

Conclusion

Family functioning in anorexic families is normal by self-report but not by an objective measure. Anorexic families in the purging subgroup appear most dysfunctional.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 167 , Issue 5 , November 1995 , pp. 673 - 678
Copyright
Copyright © 1995 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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