Abstract
BACKGROUND: Social isolation, loneliness and difficulties in relationships are often described as a core feature of eating disorders. Based on the experimental research, we have designed one-off workshops for patients in inpatients and day care services and evaluated its acceptability and effectiveness using feedback questionnaires.
METHODS: This naturalistic project is an evaluation of multiple positive communication workshops. Forty-one participants completed workshop questionnaires, which were provided immediately at the beginning and end of the workshop, including feedback on these one-off groups. The workshops consisted of educational and experiential components. The questionnaire outcomes were evaluated by independent researchers.
RESULTS: All participants were female adults with a mean age of 33 (12.2) and a diagnosis of Anorexia Nervosa (AN; either restrictive or binge-purge subtype). Post-workshop questionnaires showed large effect sizes in the improvement of understanding the importance and confidence in using positive communication strategies.
DISCUSSION: Addressing social communication difficulties in eating disorder treatment programmes adds valuable dimensions to these symptom-based treatments in both inpatient settings and day services, and may provide broader benefits in overall social functioning in patients with AN.
CONCLUSION: Brief one-off workshops targeting social functioning for patients with eating disorders might be useful complementary input for treatment programmes.
| Original language | English |
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| Article number | 1234928 |
| Journal | Frontiers in Psychology |
| Volume | 14 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 14 Aug 2023 |