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Community recognition and beliefs about anorexia nervosa and its treatment
Author(s) -
Darby Anita M.,
Hay Phillipa J.,
Mond Jonathan M.,
Quirk Frances
Publication year - 2012
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/eat.20886
Subject(s) - mental health literacy , anorexia nervosa , psychology , disadvantage , mental health , bulimia nervosa , psychiatry , respondent , vignette , eating disorders , clinical psychology , ethnic group , help seeking , social psychology , mental illness , sociology , political science , law , anthropology
Objective: Mental Health Literacy (MHL), namely recognition, and beliefs about treatment concerning Anorexia Nervosa (AN) were examined in a community sample of male and female ( n = 983) aged 15–94 years. Method: A vignette describing a women suffering from the symptoms of AN was presented, followed by a respondent‐based structured interview concerning recognition of the problem and treatment beliefs. Results: The majority of participants could identify the problem as that of an eating disorder, although only 16.1% could specifically identify it as AN. Many also believed the problem was primarily one of low self‐esteem (32.5%). General practitioners and psychiatrists or psychologists were considered the most helpful treatment providers, while obtaining information about the problem and available services, followed by family therapy, were considered the most helpful treatments. Less than one‐third of participants believed complete recovery was possible. Better AN MHL was found in younger, higher educated, and metropolitan domiciled females. Discussion: This study offers encouraging results in regard to AN MHL. In particular, there was moderate regard for the use of mental health specialists in the treatment of the disorder. However, there appears to be a misconception that AN is largely the manifestation of low self‐esteem and confusion concerning the distinction between AN and bulimia nervosa. AN MHL was poorer in males and those with higher social and health disadvantage. © 2010 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2012)