Educational needs of eating disorder patients and families

This study examines the expressed interest of 84 consecutively treated eati ng disorder Patients and their relatives/friends in a range of educational topics typically covered in psychoeducation and support groups, and compare s clinician estimates of such patient interest. Irrespective of diagnostic and demographic factors, all groups report a high level of interest in educ ational topics. However, staff consistently under-predict the interest leve l actually reported by patients. As only three questionnaire items distingu ished between patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN), educational fora involving combined clinical populations are likely to mee t the information needs of both groups, and the content of such forma appea rs just as relevant to their respective relatives/friends. Copyright (C) 20 00 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.