How do people with lived experience of Anorexia Nervosa and mental health professionals working with people with eating disorders conceptualise recovery?

ABSTRACT:

Background

Understanding the reasons for recovery or relapse in individuals with Anorexia Nervosa (AN) is vital to improving post-treatment care. However, progress has been limited by a lack of consensus on defining recovery, with calls for including patient and clinician perspectives. This qualitative study explored how individuals with lived experience of AN and mental health professionals conceptualise recovery from AN, and the factors they perceived as contributing to or preventing recovery or relapse.

Methods

We conducted three focus groups with people with lived experience of AN (n = 15 in total) and three focus groups and one individual interview with mental health professionals (n = 7). Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Results

We identifie

SUBMITTER: Ferreira AJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12577377 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature