October 2004 Archives

Newton-Wellesley Eating Disorders and Behavioral Medicine is in the process of
expanding their clinical staff with the following positions:

(1) Two additional psychotherapists:
NWEDBMED seeks Massachusetts licensed clinicians, either psychologists
or social workers (Ph.D., Psy.D., Ed.D. or LICSW), for halftime
positions in their Newton-Wellesley Hospital and Brookline offices.
The successful candidates for these positions will have expertise in
one or more of the following areas: psychotherapy and case
management of eating disordered patients, CBT, DBT, behavioral medicine.
Eating disorders treatment experience is preferred. Ample collegial
contact and individual/group supervision are provided to develop new
clinical skills.

I was pleased to hear about a newly published book dealing with self harm in combination with eating disorders. As I've mentioned in previous posts (28th July 04 and 30th March 04, self harm is a major and possibly growing problem amongst young people in the UK and elsewhere and often occurs alongside eating problems. 'Self Harm and Eating Disorders' edited by John L. Levitt, Randy A. Sansone and Leigh Cohn will hopefully help clinicians to deal with this comorbidity more effectively.

The following is from the promotional blurb on the book:

The current isse of the journal CNS Spectrums (Vol 9, No 7) has a special issue devoted to the neurobiology of eating disorders, including the following articles:

The Neurobiology of Eating Disorders: A Resurgence of Investigations
By Katherine A. Halmi, MD

Beyond Misconceptions: Neurobiological and Genetic Associations in Eating Disorders
By Sara E. Gorman and Jack M. Gorman, MD

Cardiff Local Health Board are hosting an event to find out from service users and health professionals what services are needed in Wales.

The event will be held on 16 November 2004 from 9.30-12.00 at Cardiff Local Health Board, Trenewydd, Fairwater Road, Llandaff, Cardiff CF5 2LD

Expenses will be covered on production of receipts.

If you'd like to attend, please contact:
Mrs Julie Pell
Cardiff Local Health Board
Trenewydd, Fairwater Road, Llandaff, Cardiff CF5 2LD
T: 029 20552212
F: 029 20578032
E: Julie.Pell@cardifflhb.wales.nhs.uk

Bookings for the EDNet conference 'Can't Eat, Won't Eat - So how do we help?'
must be in by 17th November 2004.
EDNet is the Eating Disorders Professional Network for the UK.
If you haven't already booked your place at the conference and would like to do so, you can find out more and download a booking form at the EDNet site.

The journal Behaviour Modification has a special issue on eating disorders, which can currently be downloaded for free from Sage. It includes the following articles:

The AED abstract submission site is now open for paper, poster and workshop submissions. Submission Deadline is October 31, 2004, Midnight, EST

The Academy of Eating Disorders International Conference on Eating Disorders will be held from April 27 - April 30, 2005 at the Hilton Montreal Bonaventure in Montreal, Canada

A recent article in the Observer draws attention to plans for registration of therapists with the Health Professions Council who will oversee training and professional practice. Joining the register will be voluntary but potential clients will be able to check whether a practitioner is registered before they agree to see them. Currently there are 19 different bodies representing different strands of therapy and counselling in the UK. Anyone can call themselves a 'therapist' or 'psychotherapist' even if they have no professional training.

Although the details are still to be ironed out, most professional bodies to which therapists belong are broadly in favour of regulation. Philip Hodson, fellow of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy responded positively to the news: 'For the first time, members and clients will be protected. Members will have qualifications that can be verified. Their behaviour and conduct can be professionally challenged.'

More information on this is available from the British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) website.

Following recent concerns about the use of certain SSRIs in adolescents, I was interested to see the following in the September issue of Science:

SCIENCE VOL 305 3 SEPTEMBER 2004
Antidepressants� Use in Anorexic Girls
THE USE OF SELECTIVE SEROTONIN REUPTAKE inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants in children is debated because of the potential risk of suicide

When Your Child Has an Eating Disorder by Abigail Natenshon is a step-by-step workbook for parents of children and young people with eating disorders. Using examples and exercises, it unpacks many of the myths about eating disorders, explains treatment approaches and advises on what parents can do to help. The book is divided into three sections, 'The Truth about Eating Disorders', 'Taking Action' and 'Recovery'. It's written in a confident and approachable style, avoiding jargon, and the text is well broken up using frequent summaries, tips and activities. The book tackles head on the dilemma of the parent, who wants desparately to help their child, but is also aware of the danger of getting overinvolved in their child's care.

I feel this is a valuable book for parents of young people with eating disorders. It will inevitably help to reduce the feelings of isolation and helplessness which are so common. Readers might be tempted to dip in and out of the book as sections become relevant, rather than following the whole programme from start to finish, which might feel rather overwhelming.

The EDNet Annual Conference, entitled

Zafra Cooper and Deborah Hawker of the Oxford University Eating Disorders and Obesity Research Group are offering a workshop on cognitive behaviour therapy for obesity on Thursday 3rd March 2005 in Bristol, UK
Cost is

The Third Cambridge Conference on Teenage Anorexia Nervosa will be held on Tuesday 2nd November 2004 at Churchill College, Cambridge, UK.

This one-day conference focusses on collaborative working between
professionals, young people, families and carers.
Sessions include:
Genetics research
Parent perspectives
Self-help strategies
Multi-family therapy
Patient perspectives.

The conference is being run by FOCUS, the Phoenix Centre and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust with the support of the Eating Disorders Association.

Further information is available on the Focus Project website.