Strife among teens: Parents need not harbor self-blame - Struggles with Eating Disorders Among Adolescents - Eliminate Parental Guilt over Adolescent's Eating Issues
Expert Psychiatrist Speaks on Anorexia Nervosa and Family Involvement
By Verena Carl
In an interview, Professor Beate Herpertz-Dahlmann, a renowned child and adolescent psychiatrist with a focus on eating disorders, discussed her views on parental involvement in treating Anorexia Nervosa (AN).
When asked about her personal weight management, Professor Herpertz-Dahlmann humorously admitted that she, like many women, does monitor her weight. However, she emphasized that her work focuses on biological, psychological, and familial factors in the development and treatment of AN, rather than her own weight.
In terms of familial involvement in treatment, Professor Herpertz-Dahlmann advocates for family-based approaches, such as Family-Based Therapy. She acknowledged the emotional strain these situations can place on families but encouraged a supportive, empowering approach, rather than one that may lead to blame.
Parental guilt can be a hurdle in treating AN, with parents often feeling responsible for their child's condition. The professor emphasized that, if such feelings arise, they are handled empathetically and supported without being attributed as a cause of the disorder.
Professor Herpertz-Dahlmann's treatment philosophy eschews blame and instead promotes education, encouragement, and active partnership between families and clinicians to foster recovery. It is important to note that the scientific consensus deems eating disorders to be multifactorial, with contributions from genetic, neurobiological, psychological, and sociocultural factors.
While Professor Herpertz-Dahlmann's research does not specifically center on "mothers' guilt" as a standalone theory or therapeutic focus, it is clear that her approach emphasizes family support and collaboration. The core objective remains the promotion of treatment and recovery for those struggling with Anorexia Nervosa.
The expert psychiatrist, Professor Beate Herpertz-Dahlmann, emphasizes the role of science in understanding the complex factors involving eating disorders like Anorexia Nervosa, particularly focusing on a multifactorial approach that includes genetic, neurobiological, psychological, and sociocultural aspects. Additionally, her treatment philosophy for young people combines psychiatric intervention with health-and-wellness initiatives, reinforcing the importance of mental-health alongside physical well-being in the management of eating disorders such as Anorexia Nervosa.
