C J Garrett1. 1. Department of Behavioural and Social Science, Faculty of Health Studies, University of Western Sydney, Nepean, Australia.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The focus of this article is on the process of recovery from anorexia nervosa, rather than on its etiology. It seeks for sociological, instead of clinical, reasons for recovery. METHOD: The article begins with a discussion of clinical outcome studies. It then reports on a phenomenological study of 32 former sufferers contacted through a newspaper article which included the author's own recovery story. Participants' narratives were analyzed to elucidate the social sources of recovery. RESULTS: The analysis refers to the coherence and mythological structure of the narratives and to their rituals of recovery and its "spiritual" nature, as understood by participants. DISCUSSION: Anorexia and recovery are conceptualized as two phases in an ascetic rite of passage which involves a confrontation with death and an eventual return to fuller community life. Suggestions are offered concerning the ways this insight can be translated into clinical practice.
OBJECTIVE: The focus of this article is on the process of recovery from anorexia nervosa, rather than on its etiology. It seeks for sociological, instead of clinical, reasons for recovery. METHOD: The article begins with a discussion of clinical outcome studies. It then reports on a phenomenological study of 32 former sufferers contacted through a newspaper article which included the author's own recovery story. Participants' narratives were analyzed to elucidate the social sources of recovery. RESULTS: The analysis refers to the coherence and mythological structure of the narratives and to their rituals of recovery and its "spiritual" nature, as understood by participants. DISCUSSION: Anorexia and recovery are conceptualized as two phases in an ascetic rite of passage which involves a confrontation with death and an eventual return to fuller community life. Suggestions are offered concerning the ways this insight can be translated into clinical practice.
Authors: Joy Llewellyn-Beardsley; Stefan Rennick-Egglestone; Felicity Callard; Paul Crawford; Marianne Farkas; Ada Hui; David Manley; Rose McGranahan; Kristian Pollock; Amy Ramsay; Knut Tore Sælør; Nicola Wright; Mike Slade Journal: PLoS One Date: 2019-03-28 Impact factor: 3.240