Family Functioning and psychopatological risk of adolescents diagnosed for eating disorders

International scientific studies underlined peculiarities of family functioning in families of patients suffered from eating disorders (ED). Results show that families with daughters with AN have family functioning characterized by low cohesion and communication and high levels of rigidity and enmeshment. Furthermore, adolescents with AN and BN show different and peculiar psychopathological profiles. Regression analysis have shown that family functioning characterized by greater rigidity predicts high psychopathological symptoms in adolescents, in both groups considered. This data is particularly interesting: in families with members with eating disorders, it can be observed that the rules and habits that bind the various members of the system do not fit the changing needs of another. However, there are several symptoms that are predetermined by rigidity in the two groups. Our study supports the importance of planning different psychological interventions based on specific types of ED for which adolescents have been diagnosed, considering the peculiarities of familiar functioning