Illness Experience and Group Process in Patients with Eating Disorders: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

The aim of this study is to understand the illness experience and describe the common themes in the group process with a qualitative research method. Four women with an eating disorder diagnosis from the Eating Disorders Unit in Istanbul University, Psychiatry Department attended eight sessions group psychotherapy. Group process was examined with a phenomenological research design. According to the results, two major themes were found; illness experience and group process. Illness experience includes food, body image, impact of disorder, cognitive factors, emotional factors, prognosis, preoccupation, denial of femininity, weight and thinness, attitudes towards illness, exercise and self-othering. Group process includes; here and now, universality, relationship with therapist, anxiety toward group, instillation of hope, group cohesiveness and group efficacy. Major themes about illness experience and group process are consistent with the eating disorders literature.  It is assumed that research findings could contribute clinical practices in the field of eating disorders in terms of understanding the disease and the development of effective treatments. 

Keywords

• Eating disorders,phenomenological research,group process

Yeme Bozukluğu Vakalarında Hastalık Yaşantısı ve Grup Süreci: Nitel Bir Çalışma

Abstract

Bu çalışmada yeme bozukluğu vakalarında hastalık yaşantısını anlamak ve grup sürecinde yaşanan ortak deneyimleri nitel yöntemle incelemek amaçlanmıştır. İstanbul Üniversitesi İstanbul Tıp Fakültesi Psikiyatri Anabilim Dalı Yeme Bozukluğu Birimi’ne başvurarak yeme bozukluğu tanısı almış dört kadın vakayla yapılan sekiz seanslık grup psikoterapi süreci fenomenolojik araştırma deseni kullanılarak incelenmiştir. Verilerin analizi sonucunda yeme bozukluğu vakalarının paylaştıkları ortak deneyimler; hastalık yaşantısı ve grup süreci olmak üzere iki ana tema altında toplanmıştır. Hastalık yaşantısı; yemek, beden imgesi, hastalığın hayata etkisi, bilişsel faktörler, duygusal faktörler, hastalık seyri, hastalıkla ilgili zihni meşguliyet, kadınlığın inkarı, kilo ve zayıflık, hastalığa yönelik atıflar, egzersiz ve kendini ötekileştirme alt temalarından oluşmaktadır. Grup süreci ise; şimdi ve burada, evrensellik, terapistle ilişki, gruba yönelik kaygılar, umut aşılama, gruba bağlılık ve grubun etkisi alt temalarını kapsamaktadır. Çalışmamızdaki vakaların hastalık yaşantısı ve grup süreciyle ilgili yaşantılarında ortaya çıkan temaların yeme bozukluğu literatürüyle tutarlı olduğu görülmektedir. Araştırma bulgularının yeme bozukluğu alanında hem hastalığın anlaşılması hem de etkili tedavilerin geliştirilmesi açısından klinik uygulamalara katkı sağlayacağı düşünülmektedir. 

Keywords

• Yeme bozuklukları,fenomenolojik araştırma,grup süreci

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