"Like a Rollercoaster": Carer Experiences of Residential Treatment for Eating Disorders

Overview

Journal J Eat Disord

Publisher Biomed Central

Date 2025 Mar 12

PMID 40069810

Authors

Rebekah Rankin

Janet Conti

Lucie Ramjan

Phillipa Hay

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Residential facilities for eating disorders are becoming increasingly common, providing recovery-oriented care in less restrictive environments compared to traditional hospital treatments. Despite their popularity, there is a lack of research regarding parent and carer experiences of residential programs. Furthermore, while the impact of eating disorders on parents and caregivers is well-documented, understandings of their lived experiences remain limited. The aim of this study was to explore parent and carer lived experiences of Australia's first residential facility for the treatment of eating disorders.

Methods: As part of a clinical evaluation (June 2021 - August 2023), 15 parents participated in a semi-structured interview about their experience of residential treatment. Transcripts were analysed using inductive reflexive thematic analysis.

Results: Analysis generated six main themes from the data: (1) When everything is still not enough; (2) They were giving us hope; (3) I just felt relief; (4) I can resume the role of loving parent; (5) We almost need our own therapist; and, (6) Treatment access: There needs to be a hundred more. These themes collectively highlight both the burden of caring for a loved one with an ED and parents' experiences of residential treatment. Overall, participants described residential treatment as providing respite and hope, enabling them to reclaim aspects of their lives that had been overshadowed by the eating disorder. Although not a "magic cure", residential care was viewed as an essential component of a broader continuum of care.

Conclusions: This research highlights the unique benefits of the residential model and the importance of a compassionate care environment, while underscoring the importance of supporting caregivers throughout the treatment process. Given the critical role of carers in treatment outcomes, further research is essential to deepen our understandings of the carer experience and develop interventions that support both the experiencing person and their primary support people.

Trial Registration: This study was prospectively registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR12621001651875p).

References

Fleming C, Le Brocque R, Healy K . How are families included in the treatment of adults affected by eating disorders? A scoping review. Int J Eat Disord. 2020; 54(3):244-279. DOI: 10.1002/eat.23441. View

Crone C, Fochtmann L, Attia E, Boland R, Escobar J, Fornari V . The American Psychiatric Association Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients With Eating Disorders. Am J Psychiatry. 2023; 180(2):167-171. DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.23180001. View

Hannah L, Cross M, Baily H, Grimwade K, Clarke T, Allan S . A systematic review of the impact of carer interventions on outcomes for patients with eating disorders. Eat Weight Disord. 2021; 27(6):1953-1962. PMC: 8635311. DOI: 10.1007/s40519-021-01338-7. View

Day S, Mitchison D, Gill K, Rankin R, Tannous W, Hay P . Carer Outcomes From a Residential Treatment Service for Eating Disorders. Eur Eat Disord Rev. 2024; . DOI: 10.1002/erv.3165. View

Oketah N, Hur J, Talebloo J, Cheng C, Nagata J . Parents' perspectives of anorexia nervosa treatment in adolescents: a systematic review and metasynthesis of qualitative data. J Eat Disord. 2023; 11(1):193. PMC: 10617236. DOI: 10.1186/s40337-023-00910-z. View

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. 2023; 57(5):1049-1068. DOI: 10.1002/eat.24081. View

Duclos J, Piva G, Riquin E, Lalanne C, Meilleur D, Blondin S . Caregivers in anorexia nervosa: is grief underlying parental burden?. Eat Weight Disord. 2023; 28(1):16. PMC: 9941225. DOI: 10.1007/s40519-023-01530-x. View

Braun V, Clarke V . Toward good practice in thematic analysis: Avoiding common problems and be(com)ing a researcher. Int J Transgend Health. 2023; 24(1):1-6. PMC: 9879167. DOI: 10.1080/26895269.2022.2129597. View

Rankin R, Conti J, Ramjan L, Hay P . A systematic review of people's lived experiences of inpatient treatment for anorexia nervosa: living in a "bubble". J Eat Disord. 2023; 11(1):95. PMC: 10257311. DOI: 10.1186/s40337-023-00820-0. View

10.

Malterud K, Siersma V, Guassora A . Sample Size in Qualitative Interview Studies: Guided by Information Power. Qual Health Res. 2015; 26(13):1753-1760. DOI: 10.1177/1049732315617444. View

11.

Wilksch S . Toward a more comprehensive understanding and support of parents with a child experiencing an eating disorder. Int J Eat Disord. 2023; 56(7):1275-1285. DOI: 10.1002/eat.23938. View

12.

Giles E, Cross A, Matthews R, Lacey J . Disturbed families or families disturbed: a reconsideration. Eat Weight Disord. 2021; 27(1):11-19. PMC: 8860793. DOI: 10.1007/s40519-021-01160-1. View

13.

van Hoeken D, Hoek H . Review of the burden of eating disorders: mortality, disability, costs, quality of life, and family burden. Curr Opin Psychiatry. 2020; 33(6):521-527. PMC: 7575017. DOI: 10.1097/YCO.0000000000000641. View

14.

Fox J, Dean M, Whittlesea A . The Experience of Caring For or Living with an Individual with an Eating Disorder: A Meta-Synthesis of Qualitative Studies. Clin Psychol Psychother. 2015; 24(1):103-125. DOI: 10.1002/cpp.1984. View

15.

Burman C, Rhodes P, Vatter S, Miskovic-Wheatley J . "I don't know how, if, it's ever going to end": narratives of caring for someone with an enduring eating disorder. Eat Weight Disord. 2024; 29(1):50. PMC: 11289154. DOI: 10.1007/s40519-024-01681-5. View

16.

Ramsey L, OHara J, Lawton R, Sheard L . A glimpse behind the organisational curtain: A dramaturgical analysis exploring the ways healthcare staff engage with online patient feedback 'front' and 'backstage' at three hospital Trusts in England. Sociol Health Illn. 2023; 45(3):642-665. DOI: 10.1111/1467-9566.13607. View

17.

Le Grange D, Eckhardt S, Dalle Grave R, Crosby R, Peterson C, Keery H . Enhanced cognitive-behavior therapy and family-based treatment for adolescents with an eating disorder: a non-randomized effectiveness trial. Psychol Med. 2020; :1-11. PMC: 9647542. DOI: 10.1017/S0033291720004407. View

18.

Surgenor L, Dhakal S, Watterson R, Lim B, Kennedy M, Bulik C . Psychosocial and financial impacts for carers of those with eating disorders in New Zealand. J Eat Disord. 2022; 10(1):37. PMC: 8922076. DOI: 10.1186/s40337-022-00565-2. View

19.

Gray C, Shaw J, Baker G, Kuluski K, Wodchis W . The Integrated Care World is a Stage: Applying Goffman's Theory of Dramaturgy to the Activities of Integrated Care. Int J Integr Care. 2024; 24(3):17. PMC: 11363894. DOI: 10.5334/ijic.8639. View

20.

Ho K, Chiang V, Leung D . Hermeneutic phenomenological analysis: the 'possibility' beyond 'actuality' in thematic analysis. J Adv Nurs. 2017; 73(7):1757-1766. DOI: 10.1111/jan.13255. View