The experience of receiving a diagnosis of an eating disorder.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The experience of receiving a diagnosis of an eating disorder: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis.
IRAS ID
130955
Contact name
Nimisha Joshi
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
City University
Research summary
Diagnosis has shown to have a profound influence within mental health and there continues to be ongoing debate and controversy regarding diagnosing and the medical model. The recent launch of the DSM-V has raised significant concerns regarding lowering diagnostic thresholds in order to focus on individual experiences rather than medical explanations. Little remains within the existing literature which qualitatively explores the experience of receiving a diagnosis of an eating disorder. The individuals’ experience of having an eating disorder in the first instance can be extremely complex and challenging. Understanding a person’s experience rather than pathologizing could potentially be a key aspect when it comes to success in treatment. This is therefore a worthy area of study as it will allow for a detailed account of receiving a diagnosis and how one makes sense of this.
This research aims to explore people’s experience of receiving a diagnosis of an eating disorder. This will include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and atypical eating disorders including eating disorder not otherwise specified and binge eating disorder. Ten participants (male & female aged 18+) will be recruited from Hertfordshire Community Eating Disorders Service, where the interviews will also be conducted. All participants will have received an eating disorder diagnosis. Participants will be interviewed using a semi-structured schedule lasting a maximum of 90 minutes. Transcribed interviews will be analysed using an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis.
REC name
London - Harrow Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/LO/1293
Date of REC Opinion
24 Sep 2013
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion