Post by Eating Disorders Neurodiversity Australia

Our Chair Laurence has published a new paper in the Journal of Eating Disorders, entitled “Iatrogenic harm in eating disorder treatment: a lived experience-led call for epistemic justice and accountability.” This paper argues that eating disorder treatment must be evaluated not only by whether it reduces symptoms, but also by whether it is safe, inclusive, and accountable. It focuses on iatrogenic harm, meaning harm caused by treatment itself. The paper highlights that psychological treatments can benefit some people while still causing distress, trauma, loss of trust in healthcare professionals and systems, disengagement from care, and/or identity-related harm. These harms are often poorly defined, inconsistently monitored, and inadequately reported in research and services. A central concern relevant in the lack of accountability is epistemic injustice: when people who report being harmed by eating disorder treatments are dismissed, belittled, pathologised, or labelled as resistant, non-compliant, not motivated enough to recover, or lacking insight. This can deepen harm and stop services from learning and improving. The paper also argues that harm is not experienced equally. Neurodivergent, trans and gender diverse, culturally diverse, Indigenous, and other marginalised people may face particular risks when treatment models are not affirming, accessible, or culturally responsive. Not everyone is exposed to the same risks or harmed in the exact same ways: iatrogenic harm in eating disorder treatment depends on the individual's identity factors and their intersectionality. The paper calls for stronger monitoring of iatrogenic harm, patient-reported outcomes, lived experience involvement in research (co-design/participatory research), and repair-oriented practice in eating disorder care. Read the paper here: https://lnkd.in/eiZm4uUs #eatingdisorder #mentalhealth #psychiatry #psychology #iatrogenicharm #healthcare #diversity #feeding #anorexia #buliamia #bingeeating #arfid #autism #adhd #neurodivergence #neurodiversity #accountability