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Introducing the Blurton Family Development Center

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Eating disorders are multidetermined: cultural, individual and family factors contribute to their development in different ways for different individuals. While eating disorders may begin with a preoccupation with food and weight, they are most often about much more than food. People suffering from eating disorders often use food and the control of food in an attempt to compensate for feelings and emotions that otherwise seem overwhelming. It is important to complete a comprehensive evaluation in order to individualize the treatment protocol.

An eating disorder assessment includes:

Eating Disorder Inventory. This is a questionnaire that measures those factors considered to be critical to the development of an eating disorder. The factors include: Drive for Thinness; Body Dissatisfaction: Bulimia; Interpersonal Distrust; Ineffectiveness; Perfectionism; Interoceptive Awareness; Maturity Fears.
The Moos Family Environment Scale. This instrument is useful in determining how much the family dynamics may have contributed to the development of the eating disorder. Results may suggest the need for family therapy.
Restrained Eating Scale. This instrument establishes how much restrictive eating plays a role in the development of an eating disorder.
Beck Depression Inventory (or Beck Depression Inventory for Youth for teens). Depression is often comorbid with eating disorders and in the case of severe depression, medication may be recommended.
Beck Anxiety Inventory (or Beck Anxiety Inventory for Youth for teens). Anxiety is also frequently comorbid with eating disorder diagnoses and as such needs to be further investigated.
Family History Questionnaire. This investigates any pre-existing medical conditions in the family, such as diabetes, that have been found to be associated with eating disorders.

Finally, an in-depth clinical interview that seeks to discover precisely when the preoccupation with food started and any triggers that may have contributed to it’s commencement. Typical eating patterns are investigated and information on weight history is recorded.

The treatment protocol is a well-established Cognitive Behavioral approach. The goals of treatment include: learning about the physiological, psychological, and cultural factors which are important in eating disorders; to normalize eating behavior; to recognize thinking errors made in regard to bodies and weight; and to development more adaptive ways of coping with stress.