Anorexia Nervosa : What Makes Patients Feel Better During the Illness and the Process of Recovery?

Abstract:                           Objective: When caring for a patient with Anorexia Nervosa (AN) it is difficult for the registered nurses to develop a good nurse-patient relationship due to a lack of understanding for the illness.  It is important for the nurse to understand the suffering that the AN patients experience, and what makes them feel better, to be able to improve the patient-nurse relationship. This study aims to explore what makes patients with AN feel better during the illness and the process of recovery. Method: A qualitative scientific approach was used. Eight autobiographies were selected as data for this study. Both English and Swedish books were used. The data was analyzed using a qualitative method of data analysis. Results: The ways patients with AN could feel better are presented in seven themes: being seen as a whole individual behind the illness, being able to trust and find security, taking responsibility for recovery, finding motivation to keep fighting towards recovery, when one's suffering is noticed, filling a void, and the strengthening of the relationship between care giver and patient. This study may help registered nurses understand the needs of the patient recovering from AN and help them meet these needs in a better way.