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Influence of parental eating disorder on children

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

H. Woolley ,
R. Wheatcroft  and
A. Stein
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It is now well established that children of parents who have psychiatric disorders are at risk of developing disturbances themselves (Rutter, 1989; Garmezy & Masten, 1994). Of particular concern is that these disturbances may persist well after remission of the parental disorder. Eating disorders occur commonly among women of child-bearing age (Szmukler, 1985; Fairburn & Beglin, 1990) and the prevalence seems to be rising (Treasure et al, 1996). Estimates indicate that at least 2% of women aged 16–40 suffer from bulimia nervosa or anorexia nervosa, and up to 4% when other eating disorders are considered (Fairburn & Beglin, 1990; Hoek, 1993). It is therefore surprising that the potential implications for their offspring have received so little attention until recently. Knowledge of whether these children are at risk and the mechanisms underlying any transmission of disturbance is important so that appropriate treatment can be instituted and preventive strategies put in place.

Type
Research Article
Information
Advances in Psychiatric Treatment , Volume 4 , Issue 3 , May 1998 , pp. 144 - 150
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal College of Psychiatrists 1998 

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