Who cares for the caregiver? Treatment for family members of people with eating disorders and personality disorders

Abstract

Family members of patients with eating disorders (ED) often experience high levels of suffering, anxiety, and helplessness. If, in addition to ED, the patient has a personality disorder (PD), emotional distress can be devastating. However, no treatment has been described to alleviate the impact on family members of patients with both disorders. The objective was to analyze the efficacy of a treatment based on psychoeducation and problem-solving strategies for relatives of patients with comorbid ED with a PD. Methods: seventy-eight family members participated (62.6% women), of which the majority were mothers (56.5%), followed by fathers (28.7%), couples/husbands (7%), brothers (5.2%) and uncles (2.6%). Participants completed the Zarit Scale and the General Self-Efficacy (GSE) before and after treatment. Results: Significant differences were found in the Persistence subscale (GSE), and a trend towards improvement in the Zarit Scale. Conclusion: These results suggest that the treatment was effective. In addition, family members improved significantly in key areas: overwhelm by the disorder and persistence of patient care and attention. It is essential to deepen this line and to analyze which treatment strategies may be most useful.