Purpose: Differences in mental health among primary caregivers of eating disorder patients with purging and non-purging behaviors were explored and predictors of psychopathological distress among caregivers were also determined.
Methods: 177 caregivers, ranging from 29 to 75 years of age, of adults and adolescents with an ED participated in the study. The caregivers completed self-report assessments related to psychopathological distress (GSI), specific experience of caregiving and expressed emotion. Results A statistically significant difference in psychopathological distress was presented by caregivers of patients with purging behaviors (38.9%) compared with non-purging ones (25%), using a GSI cut-off point. In patients who purged, caregiver’s intrusiveness and difficulties related to eating behavior accounted for 25% of the variance and in those who did not purge, difficulties related to eating behavior, guilt, social isolation, hostility and negative attitude toward illness accounted for 44% of variance.
Conclusions: The differences observed indicate the importance of identifying purging as a significant clinical marker of increased risk of psychopathological distress in caregivers.