Den dagen du äter en kaka är du frisk: En kvalitativ studie om tolv personers upplevelser av vad som krävs för att bli frisk från ätstörningar

Sammanfattning: Eating disorders are the third largest mental illness in females. Many of those who recover never regain a healthy relationship towards food and over 50% of those with eating disorders do not recover from the disorder. In order to better understand the factors underlying the recovery process, focus ought to be placed on the perspectives of those experiencing eating disorders. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore how individuals with previous eating disorders define recovery and what contributing factors facilitated their recovery. Twelve women were interviewed to broaden the understanding surrounding the process of recovery from anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa or eating disorder not otherwise specified. Participants who stated they had prior experience of eating disorders and had at some point been in contact with health care professionals were selected for the study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and a thematic analysis applied to the interview data. The results yielded ten themes relating to the research questions. The results lend support to the transdiagnostic perspective. The analysis implied complexity in the definition of recovery and what the recovery process entails. The implications of the results are discussed alongside suggestions for future research.