Impact of caregiving experience on mental health among caregivers: a comparison of eating disorder patients with purging and non-purging behaviors

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.