February 2004 Archives

The Eating Disorders Research Unit at the Institute of Psychiatry/Guys Hospital in London are looking for help with research into genetic links in eating disorders. Although eating disorders are not 'genetic' illnesses, certain genes may make it more likely that some people suffer from them. The researchers are particularly interested in families where more than one person has had an eating disorder, such as anorexia nervosa. If you would like to find out more, or if you think you (and possibly your family) make be able to help with this important study, visit the relevant pages on the Research Unit site.

I've heard excellent reports of a new book by Lorraine Bell, a clinical psychologist who works with people with eating disorders. It's called 'Managing Intense Emotions and Overcoming Self-Destructive Habits: A Self-Help Manual'

I was very excited to come across that rare thing, a statistics text which is straightforward, easy to follow, and even entertaining, dare I say such a thing.
The book is Andy Field's 'Discovering Statistics Using SPSS for Windows',

I just came across this sad but fascinating story from the Village Voice:

"Craig Williams, a curator at the New York State Museum, drove four hours to visit Willard Psychiatric Center in the spring of 1995. The complex, located 65 miles southwest of Syracuse, was about to shut down after more than 100 years. Williams figured he would be able to pick up some artifacts

Body Mass Index (BMI), a measure of weight which takes account of height, was developed to enable people to compare ideal weights for those of different heights. The formula is weight in kg divided by the square of height in metres. But it's pretty hard to do this in your head (!), and gets even more complex if you are using imperial measurements (pounds, feet and inches). Luckily, there are various sites on the web which enable you to enter weight and height (in both metric and imperial) and calculate whether your BMI puts you in the underweight, normal or overweight range.

http://www.eatingresearch.com is the website of the Eating Disorders Research Unit at the Institute of Psychiatry in London. It contains a wealth of resources for people with eating disorders and their carers as well as information about the research going on in the unit, which will be of interest to professionals.

The site is divided into five sub-sites:
1. Service User Site - The main theme of this site is to disseminate knowledge and skills that can provide stepping stones to recovery. It is particularly aimed at people with eating disorders themselves and was developed by a service user and a researcher in the unit.
2. A Carer/Families Site - This has contributions from Professor Janet Treasure and various carers. The main theme of this site is to give knowledge and skills so that carers are able to support the person with an eating disorder in their struggle for recovery.
3. A Research Site - This has contributions from of the research workers in the unit about various projects the team are involved in.
4. A Service Provider Site - This has contributions from Professor Janet Treasure which are aimed at giving health professionals tools to enable them to work effectively with people with eating disorders.
5. Interactive Platform - The fifth area is where the team ask for your feedback and contributions.

The site has also been translated into Italian and Spanish.

I recently came across the Northumberland Health Action Zone site which has some useful
downloadable self-help leaflets for sufferers from a range of difficulties including obsessive compulsive disorder, depression, bereavement and panic.
They're clearly written from a CBT perspective - an excellent resource. If anyone know's about similar resources for eating disorders, do leave a comment.

By the way, as they're in pdf format, you'll need a copy of Acrobat Reader if you don't already have one.

The Eating Disorders Review, an 8-10 page newsletter for professionals, is issued every 2 months by Gurze and is available by subscription ($65 US) with discounts for AED or IAEDP Members. You can find out more, read sample articles and subscribe at http://www.gurze.net/site12_5_00/newsletteredr.htm

As promised, here's my current list of favourite eating disorders books aimed at professionals. Of course there's considerable overlap between the two lists. In particular, I think professionals who are new to working with eating disorders would benefit greatly from reading one or two of the autobiographical books on the non-professionals list to get a feeling for what it is like to have an eating problem.

Helping People with Eating Disorders: A Clinical Guide to Assessment and Treatment by Bob Palmer - Guide for clinicians by the head of Leicester ED services in the UK. Friendly and accessible style. (amazon.co.uk) (amazon.com)

A Clinician's Guide to 'Getting Better Bit(e) by Bit(e) by Ulrike Schmidt and Janet Treasure - Guide to accompany the successful self-help book 'Getting better bit(e) by bit(e)' (see earlier post). (amazon.co.uk) (amazon.com)

As promised in earlier posts, I am gradually updating and moving across resources from my old website.

Here are a few recommended books specifically aimed at sufferers and carers. Click on the appropriate link for further information and reviews of each book at amazon.com and amazon.co.uk.

I'll post the recommended books for professionals in the next few days, or otherwise you can check back to the relevant page on the old site.

Thanks to the British Psychological Society research bulletin for drawing my attention to a recent publication suggesting that client recovery is more influenced by the particular therapist they are working with than by the therapy they receive.

Okiishi and colleagues at Brigham Young and Ohio universities in
America examined outcome data from 1,841 students who saw therapists at a university counselling service for a range of difficulties.

'Mirror Existence' is a new exhibition of photographs taken by people with eating disorders at the service where I currently work. It will be at the Bethlem Gallery, Bethlem Royal Hospital, Monks Orchard Road, Kent from 12th-24th Feb 2004.

The idea of the exhibition was to increase understanding of eating disorders using the very medium which is often used by the media to perpetuate unhelpful stereotypes.

Opening times are Tuesdays 10-12 and Thursdays 10-12 and 2-4, but the gallery can be opened at other times by appointment. (Call 020 776 4402).

I'm hoping to attend the private view early next week and will post my reactions on the site.

The annual conference of the Academy of Eating Disorders is almost upon us again. This year's conference is entitled "Finding Common Ground: Integrating Clinical Practice and Research", a subject dear to my heart.

I was glad to see that as well as the main guideline, which runs to several hundred pages, NICE have written an easy to read booklet on the most important bits of the guideline. It's particularly aimed at carers and sufferers themselves but I think it's useful for anyone who finds the whole thing a bit overwhelming!