Cultural systemic therapy on the Kibbutz: Community and family-based treatment of anorexia nervosa

A cultural approach to therapy assumes that community organization and soci al ideology can contribute to the genesis and maintenance of mental health problems, and also to their resolution. Cultural systemic therapy applies t his insight to all relevant levels of the family-community ecosystem. This is demonstrated by focusing on the treatment of anorexia nervosa in the Isr aeli Kibbutz. We analyze the confluence of cultural characteristics with th e anorectic syndrome and then illustrate in a case study of how these chara cteristics can be employed in therapy. Two particular interventions are del ineated to document the powerful impact that can be achieved when this appr oach is applied to severe and long-term disorders: the establishment and on going collaboration with an expanded community/family team and a home confi nement program. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd.