Rudolf Uher (Nina Jackson Travelling Fellow)

During my medical studies at the Charles University in Prague, I worked on a European research project, looking at the course of illness and therapy effects in eating disorders. After my graduation in 1999 I started both my postgraduate study and clinical psychiatry training at the Eating Disorders Unit in Prague. This was the first specialised Eating Disorder Unit in Eastern and Central Europe, founded in 1983.

Last year, I started working on a scanning project, looking at the brain functions in people with anorexia nervosa. I was amazed at the possibilities of this new, powerful method to look in detail at the brain function without causing any harm to the people examined.

I joined the Eating Disorders research team at the Maudsley hospital last November, taking over scanning work on a project conceived by Tara Murphy.

I sincerely appreciate working at this excellent place and have been most grateful for the bursary provided by the Psychiatry Research Trust.

The Psychiatry Research Trust has also provided a bursary to Maria Pombo to support her studies in the Eating Disorders Unit

Nina Jackson Fellows

Biological traits in anorexia nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is a complex illness, with both genetic and environmental risk factors. The current diagnostic classification may not reflect the underlying biological risk factors. Neuropsychological tasks that investigate information processing in the brain may help uncover potential biological traits that contribute to individual vulnerability to developing anorexia.

The main aim of my project is to determine whether personality and behavioural traits have information processing parallels. Research in our unit has shown that people with anorexia have relative difficulty with doing neuropsychological tasks that need cognitive flexibility compared with more focused tasks. Building on this, I am looking at a broader range of neuropsychological tasks and processes to investigate the specificity of these potential biological vulnerability traits. The participants include females who are acutely ill with anorexia, those who have recovered from anorexia and controls without a personal or family history of an eating disorder. Please see the enclosed flyer if you would like to take part.

Laura Southgate

Providing support to carers: the role of multiple family intervention in relieving carers’ distress

The primary aim of my PhD is to develop a greater understanding of the difficulties experienced by carers and to evaluate support provided to them, specifically to those caring for individuals with anorexia nervosa. As there is very little research into carers’ experiences, introductory studies within my PhD examined the nature of carers’ distress. This provided further evidence of the emotional impact of caring for someone with anorexia. Specific factors related to carers' distress were reported in the previous newsletter.

I am now examining the use of multiple family work (involving two or more families) in providing support to carers and families. Due to the complexity of anorexia, therapists and researchers have been obliged to think of more flexible and innovative ways to approach this illness. Parents and other carers often report a sense of struggling in isolation. Scholz and Asen (2001) suggest that inclusion in multiple family units is a logical step in overcoming this isolation. This is relatively new and promising endeavour in the area of eating disorders.

Over the last three years, clinicians and researchers have co-ordinated a study looking at the role of multiple and individual family work in inpatient treatment. I am now analysing their study to examine the effectiveness of these two interventions. I am also conducting in-depth interviews with some of the participating families to gain a greater understanding of the carers’ experiences and perspectives of the family work. The insight will be used to inform and improve future services. Even from the four interviews to date, themes are unfolding in carers’ views about the techniques used within family work and changes in their management and coping skills. I hope to provide new and exciting findings in future newsletters.

Jenna Whitney

Both Laura and Jenna will be taking part in Cycle Madagascar to raise money for research within the Eating Disorders Unit.

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