Location: Prague, Czech Republic

The Eating Disorder Unit is closely allied to the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism and the Institute of Endocrinology. The Unit is the major Czech research centre for Eating Disorders. It provides specialised inpatient and outpatient care for patients with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder and obesity. More than 150 cases are assigned to inpatient treatment and about 1,000 outpatient treatment visits are performed every year.

Research: The team represents long-term experience in clinical and research issues. The main research topics in the field of eating disorders are: epidemiology and risk factors, prevention, diagnostic and treatment research, in- and outpatient treatment, psychopharmacological treatment, biological and endocrinological factors. For patients with anorexia nervosa, the inclusion of the families is given extra attention. That includes family therapy (multifamily treatment) as well as specific support for parents through clubs for parents. Besides this, research into the aetiology of eating disorders is conducted in collaboration with specialised institutes of the 1st Medical School including endocrinology (leptin, ghrelin, orexin, UCP), neurobiology (stress and pain and dissociation), molecular genetics, and psychosocial factors.

Training: The Department of Psychiatry offers a special training programme for doctoral and postdoctoral education. The comprehensive training programme comprises courses in neurosciences and practice in clinical psychiatry. Up to 15 postdoctoral students participate in this 3-4 years programme. Doctoral students conduct their own project for their dissertation under supervision and learn how to publish in respected journals. The unit works closely together with self-help organisations of ED patients, their families and their friends. It has a leading position for clinical training and continuous education. Thus, it is playing an active role in the dissemination of information and research findings. Prof. MUDr. Papežová, PhD, has been elected for the president of the Eating Disorders Society (CZEDA) of the Czech Psychiatric Association. She is a member of the board for the development of Clinical Guidelines for Eating Disorders Treatment and Concepts of Psychiatric Care. Every second year the team organises a 3 day interdisciplinary international conference “Research and treatment of eating disorders” (7 academic credits).

• 1/week: Seminars as a part of the PhD studies at the Psychiatry Department
• 1/week: General seminars at the Psychiatry Department
• Language courses (English, Czech) as a part of the PhD studies; Exams (at the end of the first and third year of the PhD studies)
• Clinical Training and Psychotherapy Experiences in the Psychiatry Department

The network team:

Scientist in Charge:

Prof. MUDr. Hana Papezova, PhD.

Early Stage Researchers:

MUDr. Svetlana Zuchova

Dipl.-Psych. Annette Mehl

Local Scholar:

MUDr. Bibiana Bednarova

 

Intact Studies:

• Processes of Change in Anorexia Nervosa
• The Efficacy of Psychologists Guided Chat-Groups on Caregivers’ Subjective Burden of Patients with an Eating Disorder

Associated Studies:

• Self-harming and Body Image Distortion in Eating Disorders