Once diagnosed with an eating disorder, will a patient be guaranteed appropriate care? It is this question, among others, that Ruth Striegel-Moore, chair of the Psychology Department, hopes to answer through her current clinical study of more than 5,000 men and women.
This five-year study, administered at Wesleyan by Striegel-Moore and a small group of psychology graduate students, will seek to identify the barriers that prevent those with eating disorders from seeking and receiving effective care. The researchers hope to conclude how healthcare specialists can be better trained to diagnose and treat people with eating disorders.
Past research has revealed that many patients who receive care are prescribed medication. The problem with this, explains Striegel-Moore, is that medication merely treats the symptoms of the disorder.
“Clinical standards of care guidelines recommend psychotherapy as the treatment of choice specifically for the eating disorder,” Striegel-Moore said. “The use of medication is indicated primarily for treating mood or anxiety symptoms that are common among patients with eating disorders.”
The study Streigel-Moore is currently conducting is of particular importance because it is one of the largest studies of binge eating undertaken in scholarly history. In addition, it includes data from a large sample of men, a population that traditionally has been overlooked in eating disorder research.
Alexis May, a graduate student and the Associate Project Director of the study, said that conducting phone interviews with participants has underscored the extent to which symptoms of the disorder vary from person to person.
“Eating and weight/shape concerns are a difficult and emotional issue for many people, and I’m very appreciative that the participants are willing to open up and share their experiences with me,” May said.
Since entering the field in the late 1970s, Professor Striegel-Moore has been one of the pioneering researchers on eating disorders.
“When I came on the scene, bulimia nervosa had not yet been recognized as an eating disorder,” Striegel-Moore said.
Motivated by her own interest in women’s issues, as well as the experience of watching her sister struggle with anorexia nervosa, Striegel-Moore jump-started her career by co-founding the Yale Eating Disorder’s Clinic in the early 1980s. Since then, she has conducted many in-depth studies on the topic.
In particular, Striegel-Moore’s research has examined how the diagnosis and treatment of eating disorders differs among racial minorities.
“The language surrounding eating disorders creates a particular cultural lens through which we see these problems, and it is informed by the fact that most of the early studies were done on groups of white, European [people],” Striegel-Moore said.
Many people, she said, are likely to believe that racial minorities suffer from eating disorders at a lower rate than white Americans. Striegel-Moore, however, has been one of the first to challenge this idea.
In addition to the conclusions this study will offer, Striegel-Moore’s research and dedication to mentoring has also provided a unique opportunity for Wesleyan students to gain experience in clinical psychology.
“This is the only clinical study of eating disorders of this scope being conducted at a university that does not have a medical school,” Striegel-Moore said.
May appreciated the experience gained through the study.
“Working on this research has solidified my desire to continue working in clinical psychology,” she said.
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