The psychological battle for control: A qualitative study of health-care professionals' understandings of the treatment of anorexia nervosa

Author(s): Smith, J. A., Walsh, S.

Journal/Book: J Community Appl Social Psych. 1997; 7: Baffins Lane, Chichester, W Sussex, England PO19 1UD. John Wiley & Sons Ltd. 137-152.

Abstract: This paper reports a qualitative, idiographic study, which intensively examines a multidisciplinary team of clinicians' subjective understandings and experiences of treating young people with anorexia nervosa. The study employs semi-structured interviews and interpretative phenomenological analysis, these methods enabling individual clinicians' perspectives to be explored in depth and retained within the analysis. The analysis focuses on the salient higher-order theme of control which emerges as central to understanding the treatment of the anorexic child. Three control-related themes are used to illustrate the multiplicity of meanings and experiences which are relevant to this team of health-care professionals. It is suggested that this paper makes three important contributions to the current eating disorder literature: illuminating the multi-faceted nature of the construct control; highlighting the importance of therapists' subjective understandings and experiences; and illustrating the value of qualitative methods for clinically relevant research.

Note: Article Jarman M, Univ Sheffield, Dept Psychol, Sheffield S10 2TP, S Yorkshire, ENGLAND

Keyword(s): anorexia nervosa; control; treatment; clinician; meaning; experience; qualitative research; EATING DISORDERS; BULIMIA-NERVOSA; DEPRESSION

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