Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40069810›Full record

ArticleJournal of eating disorders2025

"Like a rollercoaster": carer experiences of residential treatment for eating disorders.

Rebekah Rankin, Janet Conti, Lucie Ramjan, Phillipa Hay

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of eating disorders, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Rebekah RankinTranslational Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith,Sydney, NSW, 2751, Australia. r.rankin3@westernsydney.edu.au.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5319-780X
Janet ContiTranslational Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith,Sydney, NSW, 2751, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5064-8003
Lucie RamjanTranslational Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith,Sydney, NSW, 2751, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7815-3005
Phillipa HayTranslational Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith,Sydney, NSW, 2751, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0296-6856

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundResidential facilities for eating disorders are becoming increasingly common, providing recovery-oriented care in less restrictive environments compared to traditional hospital treatments. Despite their popularity, there is a lack of research regarding parent and carer experiences of residential programs. Furthermore, while the impact of eating disorders on parents and caregivers is well-documented, understandings of their lived experiences remain limited. The aim of this study was to explore parent and carer lived experiences of Australia's first residential facility for the treatment of eating disorders.

methodsAs part of a clinical evaluation (June 2021 - August 2023), 15 parents participated in a semi-structured interview about their experience of residential treatment. Transcripts were analysed using inductive reflexive thematic analysis.

resultsAnalysis generated six main themes from the data: (1) When everything is still not enough; (2) They were giving us hope; (3) I just felt relief; (4) I can resume the role of loving parent; (5) We almost need our own therapist; and, (6) Treatment access: There needs to be a hundred more. These themes collectively highlight both the burden of caring for a loved one with an ED and parents' experiences of residential treatment. Overall, participants described residential treatment as providing respite and hope, enabling them to reclaim aspects of their lives that had been overshadowed by the eating disorder. Although not a "magic cure", residential care was viewed as an essential component of a broader continuum of care.

conclusionsThis research highlights the unique benefits of the residential model and the importance of a compassionate care environment, while underscoring the importance of supporting caregivers throughout the treatment process. Given the critical role of carers in treatment outcomes, further research is essential to deepen our understandings of the carer experience and develop interventions that support both the experiencing person and their primary support people.

trial registrationThis study was prospectively registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR12621001651875p).

Indexed as

CarerEating disorderIdentityInterdependenceLived experienceParentQualitativeResidential treatment

Identifiers

PMID40069810
PMCPMC11895211

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.