Help seeking and satisfaction with care in 641 women with eating disorders. I. Patterns of utilization, attributed change, and perceived efficacy of treatment
Yager, J.; Landsverk, J.; Edelstein, C.K.
Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease 177(10): 632-637
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-3018 PMID: 2794990 Document Number: 329753
Help-seeking patterns and satisfaction with care were described by 641 women with eating disorders participating in a national magazine survey. Between 60.6% and 92.9% of respondents in three diagnostic groups sought professional treatment. Professional treatments most often entered were individual psychotherapy (52.9%), behavioral therapy (28.0%), group therapy (24.6%), and nutritional therapy (18.6%). Treatments were generally seen as helping "a little". Only bulimic anorexia nervosa respondents perceived any interventions to be more harmful than helpful, specifically Overeaters Anonymous and self-help groups, both nonprofessional interventions. Caregivers selected as "experts" regarding eating disorders were rated as more efficacious than others, helping "a little" to "somewhat".