An interesting question to ask would be, "do children who are refed in a hospital or other setting have the same 'cure' rate as those refed by parents at home with the Maudsley method?" If they are, then this would support the hypothesis that eating disorders are caused by a brain diseased triggered by malnourishment. I do not know the specific statistics, but I do know that refeding alone does not 'cure' most people with ED, although it is one of many important components for healing. Perhaps the Maudsley method of refeeding indirectly reteaches parents and child something about boundaries and/or some of the many other inter-relational skills that perhaps contribute to the development and maintainence of EDs.
The questions about ED etiology and treatment suggested by all who have posed are intriguing. As with addiction, depression and other multi-factorial mental/brain illnesses we may never have an evidence-based "best" treatment. Different approaches work for different people. But the more we know, the better able we will be to identify the cause(s) of a particular individuals ED and offer the most appropriate treatment. This discussion has certainly encouraged me to keep reading, researching, and an open-mind when it comes to treating patients and continuing with my own recovery process.
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An interesting question to ask would be, "do children who are refed in a hospital or other setting have the same 'cure' rate as those refed by parents at home with the Maudsley method?" If they are, then this would support the hypothesis that eating disorders are caused by a brain diseased triggered by malnourishment. I do not know the specific statistics, but I do know that refeding alone does not 'cure' most people with ED, although it is one of many important components for healing. Perhaps the Maudsley method of refeeding indirectly reteaches parents and child something about boundaries and/or some of the many other inter-relational skills that perhaps contribute to the development and maintainence of EDs.
The questions about ED etiology and treatment suggested by all who have posed are intriguing. As with addiction, depression and other multi-factorial mental/brain illnesses we may never have an evidence-based "best" treatment. Different approaches work for different people. But the more we know, the better able we will be to identify the cause(s) of a particular individuals ED and offer the most appropriate treatment. This discussion has certainly encouraged me to keep reading, researching, and an open-mind when it comes to treating patients and continuing with my own recovery process.
Richelle
June 9, 2009 - 4:31pmThis Comment
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