Early Symptom Development Study

By -
The University of Chicago is currently conducting a study of eating disorder symptom development.

 I am thinking of packing the girls in the car and planning a summer trip to Chicago so we can participate (yes, this is what it has come to....vacations are now planned in service of Eating Disorder research).       A bit weird, yes...but this topic is just so fascinating.  Teasing out and helping parents understand the prodrome symptoms is of great, great value.

What are the early, early signs of symptom development?  Are early signs sub-threshold symptoms or can we catch before that? If we catch it pre-sub threshold will it make a difference?  Is it possible to identify early enough that we can do an end run around?   Obviously, the study is not designed to answer all my burning questions but it will gather relevant information and I will try to do my bit to assist.  

Oh, and not all our vacations are ED vacations.....we have a brilliant do-over trip to Harry Potter World in Orland planned for July.  Our first attempt(tickets purchased/ hotel booked), for the big girl's 18th birthday, was dashed because the small girl was hospitalized weeks before the trip and was in no state to travel.  The big girl will be 21 this year and July is HP- The Redux.  We are at a hotel with a breakfast buffet and a lazy river:  Food will be eaten and bathing suits will be worn.   The food won't appear by magic but a lot of magic (plate) got us here.



Info on Study:

FAMILY PERSPECTIVES ON EARLY EATING DISORDER DEVELOPMENT

ANNA CIAO, PHD

The University of Chicago is seeking adolescents and their families to participate in a study looking at eating disorder symptom development. All participants will be asked to come in for a 45 minute session in which they will be interviewed and surveyed about their eating disorder development. Participants will be adolescents between the ages of 12-18 with a recent eating disorder onset (i.e., within the past two years) and parents of adolescents with a recent eating disorder diagnosis. Participants will each be compensated with a $25 gift card for their participation ($50 per family).In person interviews are preferable, but we can also complete sessions via phone.
If you are interested and would like more information, please call us at 773-702-0789 or email [email protected].

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Parents and Carers: Please consider participating in this survey by Sept 7th, 2015

By -
Parent/Carer insight sought to assist in developing early identification resources. The team at the Victorian Centre of Excellence in Eating Disorders are currently developing an early intervention resource package in direct response to feedback provided by parents and carers. The aim is to have the package available for families and carers at the first point where they seek help. This resource specifically aims to assist parents or carers to determine how concerned they should be about their young person; what eating disorders are and are not; when to escalate access to treatment; where to seek treatment and what to expect; and what parents can be doing at home in the meantime. A focus group was undertaken with 15 parents and they are now wanting to expand on the very valuable learnings gleaned from the group through wider survey. So, if you could please take the time to take the survey and to forward (via the link below) on to any families you think will be willing to assist...
Read more

Introducing FEAST Advisor: Dr. Lauren Muhlheim

By -
Image
F.E.A.S.T., as you may  know, is an international, non profit, volunteer run organization governed by a Board of Directors. In addition, however, to the informed guidance of our Board of Directors, F.E.A.S.T. benefits greatly from the consultative expertise of a group of international professionals and allies who sit on our Advisory Panel.  Today we would like to introduce you to Dr. Lauren Muhlheim: Lauren Muhlheim, Psy.D., CEDS, is a clinical psychologist who, during graduate school, trained in the Rutgers Eating Disorder Clinic under G. Terence Wilson, Ph.D.  Along with Chris Fairburn, Terry Wilson was instrumental in the development of cognitive behavioral therapy for eating disorders.  In this research clinic Dr. Muhlheim was trained in cognitive behavioral therapy for bulimia, and eating disorders have remained a primary focus and interest of study.  Since leaving the research clinic, Dr. Muhlheim has continued to employ evidence-based cognitive be...
Read more

"Wasting Away": a Channel 4 documentary

By -
Image
"Wasting Away": A Channel 4 Documentary Mark and Maddy Austin. Photograph: David Hogan/Channel 4 To those who have watched, heard about, or who are discussing the Channel 4 Documentary “Wasting Away” , broadcast Thursday August 24, 10pm in the UK … … a blog post from F.E.A.S.T.'s Chair I watched the powerfully affecting documentary aired on Channel 4 last week, although I didn’t really want to; not because I don’t care about the story of Mark and his daughter Maddy and the effects of her illness on all of their family, and not because I don’t care about the others who were featured, many of whom have been failed or are failing within the scope of UK healthcare, but because I do care, very much.  And because I knew that I would be affected, my family having once been affected by an eating disorder too, and because of what I have seen of how eating disorders have affected many families over my many years of volunteering for F.E.A.S.T. Anyway, I watched, and a...
Read more