Perceptions of bed rest by anorexic patients

✍ Scribed by Griffiths, Rosalyn ;Gross, Gaby ;Russell, Janice ;Thornton, Christopher ;Beumont, Pierre J. V. ;Schotte, David ;Touyz, Stephen W.

• Publisher: Wiley (John Wiley & Sons)
• Year: 1998
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 23 KB
• Volume: 23
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0276-3478
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1098-108x(199805)23:4<443::aid-eat13>3.0.co;2-x

✦ Synopsis

Objective: Few studies have investigated perceptions of operant conditioning programs by anorexic patients. This study examined patients' perceptions of the Bed Rest (BR) component which is employed in some operant conditioning programs. Methods: A sample of 48 anorexic inpatients was administered a survey to elicit their attitudes towards BR. Results: Results from the survey suggested that most patients perceived BR in a negative way. The main complaint, however, was not punishment or humiliation, as predicted, but isolation and boredom. A number of patients concluded that they wanted more individualization and distraction and less restriction while on BR. Discussion: The findings justify the use of BR within a humane framework in the inpatient treatment of anorexia nervosa, but suggest that patients' perceptions of BR warrant systematic scrutiny.