Strife in teenagers: Avert parental guilt - Struggles with Eating Disorders in Adolescents - Parents Need Not Carry Burden of Guilt Alone
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Leading child and adolescent psychiatrist Professor Beate Herpertz-Dahlmann discusses the role of mothers in tackling anorexia nervosa, highlighting the need to alleviate maternal guilt.
In an interview, the renowned expert on eating disorders was asked if she monitors her weight. She laughed and replied, "Of course! But I believe few women don't."
Professor Herpertz-Dahlmann champions family involvement in the treatment and recovery of adolescents with anorexia nervosa. She supports family-based treatments that view parents, especially mothers, as allies rather than causal factors in the disorder.
Common among parents, particularly mothers, is the emotion of guilt when their child develops an eating disorder. However, extensive research and expert opinion, including Herpertz-Dahlmann's, maintain that parental behavior is not responsible for the onset of anorexia nervosa. Instead, the disorder evolved complexly due to genetic, psychological, and environmental factors.
Her clinical approach targets reducing blame and guilt among parents, recommending psychoeducation and support for families to comprehend the illness and aid in recovery. Her work reflects a significant shift within child psychiatry, moving away from parental blame, towards evidence-based, family-focused treatments.
In summary, Professor Herpertz-Dahlmann advocates that maternal guilt is an emotional burden that isn't productive in the context of anorexia nervosa. Parental involvement is crucial for treatment, but parents are not responsible for the disorder. Empowering and supporting families is key to effective treatment. While she may not have explicitly stated this, her approach and advocacy align with these sentiments.
by Verena Carl
The psychiatric treatment of young people with eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa, often requires family involvement, with Professor Beate Herpertz-Dahlmann advocating for family-based treatments that view parents, particularly mothers, as allies rather than causal factors. Moreover, it's essential to address the guilt that mothers often experience when their child develops an eating disorder, as this emotion is common but misplaced, according to extensive research and expert opinion, including Herpertz-Dahlmann's, which suggests that anorexia nervosa has complex origins in genetic, psychological, and environmental factors. From this, it's clear that the health-and-wellness and mental-health fields can benefit from scientific advancements and evidence-based practices that shift focus away from parental blame and toward supportive, family-focused treatments.
