Étude exploratoire du vécu de la prise en charge des parents et de la fratrie de jeunes filles anorexiques

Abstract

BackgroundAnorexia nervosa (AN) is a serious psychiatric disorder, which affects 0.3% of young people, with a high mortality rate. The impacts of AN on both the patient and their family are severe, as AN decreases the quality of life of the whole family, and increases dysfunctional family interactions. Providing families affected by AN with support to limit the impact of the disorder on the family is therefore critical. Importantly, the lack of consensus regarding treatments for AN is particularly painful for the patients and their relatives. This exploratory study focuses on the impact of treatments for AN on families in France. The main aim is to explore the experience of parents and siblings of individuals suffering from AN to gain a better understanding of the impact of the disorder and its treatment on the whole family. The second purpose is to identify directions for improving the support provided to patient and their relatives. MethodTwelve relatives of girls suffering from anorexia (6 mothers, 3 fathers and 3 siblings) were recruited within an association dedicated to the support of parents of individuals suffering from AN. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and thematic analysis was used to extract the meaningful themes. ResultsThe results highlight five distinct categories: long and ineffective treatments, family support (of lack thereof), involvement of the siblings, the need of guidance and the benefits of support groups. Treatments are stressful for family members who are negatively impacted by both the length of treatment and the slow rates of improvement. Relatives of individuals suffering from AN, particularly siblings, require greater support as they are generally excluded from the treatment process. Parents clearly express a need of guidance concerning the appropriate behavior to adopt with their daughters. Plus they highlight the benefits of talking with other parents. ConclusionOur exploration of the experience of the families of individuals suffering from AN provides targets for the improvement of the support provided to families. Findings highlight the need for information, guidance and sharing with other families. Relatives need to be provided with more information throughout the treatment process, from diagnosis to recovery. In addition, families were particularly interested in obtaining practical advice on the appropriate behaviors to adopt with their anorexic daughter or/and sister. Finally, our results stress the helpfulness of sharing the experience of caring for someone with AN with other families facing eating disorders, in order to decrease isolation and social stigma. This study contributes to the evidence of how AN deeply affects the entire family, with major consequences for parents and siblings. This study emphasizes the need to improve the support for relatives and their involvement in the care process, in order to limit the impact of AN on other family members and to promote recovery.