This thesis investigates eating disorders (EDs) and treatment from the patients’ perspective and compares the patients’ perspective as a body of knowledge with the scientific evidence and the therapists’ perspective.
EDs, namely anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and the EDs not otherwise specified, are rare, but very serious psychiatric disorders, with a low recovery rate. Mortality in anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa is high in comparison to other mental disorders. The physical, psychological and social consequences are also severe. Optimal treatment is imperative.
Evidence-based medicine (EBM) has increasingly become the accepted means to offering optimal treatment of EDs, although the evidence on treatment of EDs, as described in the Dutch multidisciplinary guidelines on EDs, is limited. In EBM, a therapist, when confronted with specific problems, seeks to integrate scientific research with clinical expertise and a patient’s preferences.
The growing importance of the patients’ preferences arises from the changing attitudes towards (and of) patients. Today patients are considered to be emancipated citizens or consumers, who want to have a say in their treatment. Although a patient’s preferences are considered important in an individual’s encounter with a clinician, the patients’ views are rarely considered to be a body of knowledge.
This thesis investigates if and how the patients’ perspective - as a body of knowledge - contributes to an understanding of EDs, the consequences of EDs and what should be regarded optimal treatment of EDs and how the patients’ perspective is related to other bodies of knowledge. The following questions are addressed:
1. What are the patients’ views on eating disorders, their consequences and treatment?
2. In what ways can the patients’ perspective contribute to a better understanding of eating disorders, their consequences and optimal treatment?
3. How is the patients’ perspective related to other bodies of knowledge, namely the scientific evidence and the therapists’ perspective?

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Zorgonderzoek Nederland, ZonMW, Nationaal Fonds Geestelijke Volksgezondheid, NFGV, Fonds PGO, Stichting Kinderpostzegels Nederland, RVVZ, Robert-Fleury Fonds
M.C.H. Donker (Marianne)
Erasmus University Rotterdam
hdl.handle.net/1765/14531
Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management (ESHPM)

de la Rie, S. (2009, January 23). Eating Disorders and Treatment from Different Perspectives. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/1765/14531