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Perceptions of bed rest by anorexic patients
Author(s) -
Griffiths Rosalyn,
Gross Gaby,
Russell Janice,
Thornton Christopher,
Beumont Pierre J. V.,
Schotte David,
Touyz Stephen W.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
international journal of eating disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.785
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1098-108X
pISSN - 0276-3478
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1098-108x(199805)23:4<443::aid-eat13>3.0.co;2-x
Subject(s) - psychology , anorexia nervosa , boredom , humiliation , punishment (psychology) , clinical psychology , rest (music) , perception , developmental psychology , psychiatry , psychotherapist , eating disorders , social psychology , medicine , neuroscience , cardiology
Objective Few studies have investigated perceptions of operant conditioning programs by anorexic patients. This study examined patients' perceptions of the Bed Rest (BR) component which is employed in some operant conditioning programs. Methods: A sample of 48 anorexic inpatients was administered a survey to elicit their attitudes towards BR. Results: Results from the survey suggested that most patients perceived BR in a negative way. The main complaint, however, was not punishment or humiliation, as predicted, but isolation and boredom. A number of patients concluded that they wanted more individualization and distraction and less restriction while on BR. Discussion: The findings justify the use of BR within a humane framework in the inpatient treatment of anorexia nervosa, but suggest that patients' perceptions of BR warrant systematic scrutiny. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 23: 443–447, 1998.