Sak L. Medical and psychological support of patients with anorexia nervosa in the context of family functioning and psycho-emotional status of parents/guardians

Eating disorders, which include anorexia nervosa, are common, severe, and often chronic mental disorders with severe negative health and social consequences. Risk factors for anorexia nervosa include genetic predisposition, personality traits, stress, and environmental factors. (Schurrer M., 2017; M. L. Norris,, W. Spettigue,, D. K. Katzman, 2018) Early adolescence and puberty (11-14 years) are transitional phases of life characterized by increased levels of stress, physical, psychological, and social modifications. Due to the awareness of social pressure to lose weight and its maladaptive cognitive assessment, stress levels increase, which can further provoke psychological maladjustment and increase the risk of psychosomatic and mental disorders. That is why adolescence is the period of the highest risk of manifestation of anorexia nervosa symptoms as a possible consequence of psychological maladjustment, although the disease can occur in people of all ages (K. M. Culbert, S. E. Racine, K. L. Klump, 2017; M. Schurrer, 2019). The treatment of patients with anorexia nervosa is a complex and time-consuming process, as persistent forms are increasingly common. About 19.6% of patients with anorexia nervosa have a chronic course of the disease, which causes both financial and psychological difficulties for the patient's family. Research results indicate a direct influence of psycho-emotional status and/or existing psychopathological manifestations and possible psychosomatic disorders in parents, on the development and maintenance of eating disorders. Certain personality traits, psychopathological manifestations in close family members of patients with anorexia nervosa and peculiarities of family functioning of the patient's family may be predictors of the onset of anorexia nervosa, and others, on the contrary, may play a preventive and supportive role in the treatment and prevention of relapses of anorexia nervosa. 2018; L. Balottin,, S. Mannarini,, M Mensi, 2017; L. Balottin, S. Mannarini, 2018). The purpose of the research was to improve the effectiveness of providing medical and psychological care to patients with anorexia nervosa based on the study of pathopsychological characteristics of people with anorexia nervosa and their parents/caregivers, indicators of family functioning and quality of social support by introducing a scientifically based psychocorrection program in the context of family relationships into standard medical and psychological care.