Il existe pour les patients atteints d‘anorexie mentale peu d’interventions de psychoéducation. L’objectif de cette étude est d’évaluer la faisabilité et l’acceptabilité d’un programme de psychoéducation. Les objectifs secondaires exploratoires concernent l’évaluation de l’efficacité du programme sur la symptomatologie.

Vingt-sept patientes réparties en trois groupes ont bénéficié d’un groupe hebdomadaire de huit séances, en adjonction à leur prise en charge habituelle, dans une étude ouverte. Les patientes ont bénéficié de trois évaluations de suivi, à la fois quantitatives et qualitatives.

Soixante-dix-huit pour cent des patientes ont assisté à plus de 75 % des séances. Soixante-dix pour cent des patients ont trouvé le groupe utile et 95 % déclarent qu’il leur a permis d’améliorer leurs connaissances sur la maladie et ses conséquences. L’IMC moyen des participantes, les dimensions alimentaires et le fonctionnement ont significativement et positivement évolué, immédiatement après le groupe et à trois mois. Sur le plan qualitatif, les patientes sont majoritairement satisfaites du groupe et rapportent pour la plupart des changements dans leur quotidien : soit dans leur rapport aux soins et à la maladie, soit dans les relations avec leurs proches ou encore dans leur comportement alimentaire.

Les résultats à la fois qualitatifs et quantitatifs suggèrent que ce programme de psychoéducation par groupe en adjonction à la prise en charge habituelle est faisable et bien accepté par les patientes. Les améliorations cliniques constatées sont encourageantes quant à l’innocuité de ce type d’intervention et à leur éventuelle efficacité, et plaident pour une étude contrôlée.

Management of anorexia nervosa is difficult and few treatments have shown their effectiveness, justifying the exploration of new therapeutic approaches. Available evidence suggests an interest of psychoeducational groups in a significant number of psychiatric disorders. In patients suffering from anorexia, to date there are few groups or interventions available. We aimed to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a psycho-educational program promoting information about the disease and presenting techniques that can help to cope with anorexia and the functional impact it causes. The exploratory secondary objectives were to evaluate if such a group is associated with clinical improvement.

Twenty-seven patients suffering from anorexia nervosa, in three groups, received eight weekly interventions in addition to their usual care. The study was open-label and non-randomized. Patients were assessed three times (baseline, at the end of the group and three months later). The assessments were both qualitative (Eating Disorder Examination questionnaire, The Anorexia Nervosa Stage of Change Questionnaire, the Eating Disorders Quality of Life questionnaire, Work and Social Adjustment Scale) and qualitative.

Seventy-eight percent of participants attended more than 75 % of the sessions. Seventy percent of participants found the group useful, and 95 % said it helped them improve their knowledge of the disease and its consequences. The average BMI of participants changed significantly with an average increase of 2.5kg between baseline and the three month assessment. There was an improvement of the eating disorders features in EDE-Q for the total score and for all subscores. The improvement in the total score was significant at the end of the group sessions, while the improvement in the sub scores became significant at three months. There was also a significant mood improvement at the end of the group. Finally, there was a significant improvement in daily functioning with a decrease in Work and Social Adjustment Scale scores and an improvement in quality of life. On qualitative assessment, patients were satisfied with the care proposal. They were able to appreciate the support and sharing of experience provided by the group formula. Most of them reported changes in their daily lives, either in their relationship to care and illness, or in their relationships with their loved ones, their leisure/work, their mood or their eating behavior.

Both qualitative and quantitative results suggest that this group psychoeducation program is feasible and well accepted by patients in addition to usual management. Although the methodology does not allow any conclusions, the clinical improvements observed during the group are encouraging with regard to the safety of this type of intervention and its possible effectiveness and argue for a controlled study.