Naslov
Challenges of therapeutic work with youth with eating disorders

Autori
Gordana Berc, Marijana Majdak, Franka Skoblar

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, znanstveni

Izvornik
Transforming society: 19th International symposium of International Consortium for Social Development, 7-11, July, Singapore / Tan Ngoh Tiong - Singapur, 2015, 6-6

Skup
Transforming society: 19th International symposium of International Consortium for Social Development, 7-11, July, Singapore

Mjesto i datum
Singapur, 07.07.2015. - 11.07.2015

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Predavanje

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
youth with eating disorders; therapists; health system support

Sažetak
In Croatia 30% of youth suffer from some form of malnutrition, and female are the most represented (90%). The aim of this study was to gain insight into the experiences of professionals who work with these clients (especially youth) and who evaluated the success of healing treatment. The sample consisted of six experts (psycotherapist in hospital and private practice, psychologist and social worker in Centers for social welfare, psychiatrist, pediatrician) who have an experience in work with youth with eating disorders. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews. Contents of interviews were transcribed and analyzed by the method of qualitative analysis. The results show that in a work with clients’ experts use various methods - psychotherapeutic approaches, counseling and group work. Clients under 18 come to the therapy on parents’ initiative and support but adults come on their own initiative. Causes of eating disorders of youth are mainly connected with problems in functioning on individual, social, and family level. A treatment success depends on: a client’s motivation for personal changes, age, stage of disease, client’s readiness for cooperation, therapist’s skills and accessibility to the therapy treatments (lack of therapeutic centers, high costs). The lack of family and friends support, lack of their knowledge about this disease and inadequate way of providing and giving support are often reasons for the treatment failure. The lack of trust towards the therapist is based on a client’s earlier negative relationship experience with surroundings. The lack of family members’ involvement into a family therapy is also an obstacle for successful treatment. Participants of the research agreed that work with youth with eating disorders may be improved by: providing more therapeutic centers for eating disorders, providing more educated professionals and therapists for work with clients eating disorders and by organizing professional support and supervision for professionals, organizing education of general population about eating disorders in cooperation with media and other sources as well through prevention programs in primary and secondary schools (on the state level) where students and parents should be included. Also, the adoption of the law on psychotherapy and its implementation into the health insurance system is needed in order to provide accessibility of the therapy for all clients as well as a strong support system for the clients during a healing period of 4-6 years and after that. In addition, participants made recommendations for practice improvement and suggested the adoption of treatment programs based on those that exist abroad and which provides a treatment of eating disorders at all stages of the disease - acute hospitalization, partial hospitalization, outpatient treatment and control monitoring in specialized institutions. Croatia has not yet agreed where clients who suffer from eating disorders should be treated. Neither the hospital nor institution is not equipped, nor is it able with their economic and human resources to carry out the needed treatments and support for the clients, their families and therapists.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Socijalne djelatnosti

POVEZANOST RADA