Eating disorders and family therapy. Why, how and when?

This article is based on a lecture delivered to the 2nd Nordic Congress on Eating Disorders in Bergen, Norway, 1998, updated to 2000. It examines how earlier ages looked upon and therapeutically evaluated family interaction with regard to the young anorexic patient. The author presents several foreground figures in the field of family therapy thinking, submits his own research in the field, outlines his current therapeutic practice, and concludes with his own answers to the questions: why, how and when?

[Early onset of Huntington disease]. / Tidligt debuterende Huntingtons syge.

The case of a childhood form of Huntington's disease in a 12-years-old girl is reported. The patient suffered from severe psychosis, progressive difficulties in speaking, and mental deterioration. Her father committed suicide due to Huntington's disease when the patient was eight years old. Neurological examination revealed nothing but speaking difficulties. She had no signs or symptoms of involuntary movements, muscular rigidity or ataxia. SPECT-scanning showed a picture similar to that seen in adult patients with Huntington's disease. The difficulties in diagnosing Huntington's disease in children are discussed, and the necessity of the child psychiatric expertise is emphasized.

Anorexia nervosa families--a homogeneous group? A case record study.

Nineteen consecutive case records of inpatients at a child psychiatric department with the diagnosis anorexia nervosa (AN) (DSM-III-R) were investigated to describe the family interaction pattern. To evaluate the families, the information from the case records was supplemented by interviews of the therapists and finally the result was discussed with the supervisors until agreement. The evaluation instrument used was Beavers' Scales for Family Style and Function. Level of aggression, dominance pattern among parents, socioeconomic stratification and psychiatric diagnosis among parents were also evaluated. The study shows 3 groups of AN families, centripetal (53%), centrifugal (24%) and mixed (24%), supporting a hypothesis that AN families are a heterogeneous group. Evaluated family functioning was highest in the mixed group, followed by the centripetal group. The poorest family functioning and severest psychopathology among the parents was found in the centrifugal group.

[Zinc in patients with anorexia nervosa]. / Zink hos anorexia nervosa patienter.

In a multicenter study, the relation between zinc status and anorexia nervosa was studied in 18 patients (15 females and 3 males in the age range of 11 to 25 years). Analysis of plasma zinc (by atomic absorption), plasma albumin (by electro-immuno diffusion method) and sense of taste (comparing quinine, zinc sulfate and water solutions), showed no significant abnormalities. Thus, the investigation does not support the hypothesis, that zinc status plays a significant role in the symptomatology of anorexia nervosa.