MISERY AND HOPE: SUPPORT GROUP FOR PATIENTS WITH EATING DISORDERS

Abstract

The author presents his experience as a psychotherapist of a group of patients who were diagnosed as having eating disorders in special anorexia and bulimia. This therapeutic support group is part of a multi-professional approach carried out in the ambulatory of eating disorders which has been assisting people since 1982 in the Clinical Hospital of the Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo. The participation in the group is open to both sexes, although the majority of participants are young single women, with diverse socio-economic backgrounds. The conceptual framework of the intervention follows psycho-dynamic formulations. The non recognition of the psycho-pathological condition, the psychiatric co-morbidities and the feelings of not trusting the relationships are the therapeutic challenges to be overcome in order to establish the needed therapeutic alliance between the patient and the health professional. The psychological intervention aims to sensitize these patients for their need of treatment, stimulating self awareness about their problem and a responsible attitude regarding health care. The support offered has an educational intention besides its socio-emotional care. The therapeutic group process seems to facilitate the construction of favorable conditions for changes supporting an experience exchange space and an attitude of mutual help. This attitude has increased the sense of union and the group cohesion. Indeed, the cumulative experience over the last years have shown that peer groups promote re-signification of beliefs, values and feelings regarding to one’s own body and the process of self-care reflecting in the positive reduction of symptoms of the eating disorders. Concluding we argued that the conduction of the psychotherapy should prioritize the re-establishment of the prime attachment to life.