Thematic Sessions NEDS Conference 2024

Anxiety, body and motherhood: Clinical approaches to eating disorders in pregnancy and the early stages of maternity

Chaired by Bente Sommerfeldt, Clinical Psychologist, Norway.

Trajectories of severe eating disorders through pregnancy and early motherhood

Bente Sommerfeldt (Norway)
Specialist in clinical psychology
PhD/University of Oslo
Academic director/Institute of Eating Disorder 

Eating disorders and perinatal phase: Women’s perspective on help and support during and after birth

Cecilie Brundin Pettersson (Sweden)
Research student
Dept. of Medical Science
Uppsala University/Center for Clinical Research
Eating Disorder Unit in Region Dalarna

How do we teach pregnant women with ED to tackle the fear of weight gain during pregnancy and after birth?

Charlotte Sollid (Denmark)
Midwife, cognitive behavioral therapist
Dept. of Gyneacology and Obstetrics
Aarhus University Hospital Skejby

Being a relative of a family member with an ED

Chaired by Raymond Valdes, Sweden

Eating disorders and autism: co-occurrence and strategies

Chaired by Prof. Anna Keski-Rahkonen, MD, PhD, Finland

Autism and restrictive eating disorders: overlapping characteristics

Emma Saure (Finland)
Psychologist (MA), Master of Neuroscience (MSc), PhD student
Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Faculty of Medicine
University of Helsinki

This session will focus on the shared neuropsychological characteristics of anorexia nervosa and autism based on an ongoing PhD project. Dr Saure will introduce these characteristics, discuss how these contribute to eating disorder symptoms, and discuss how these characteristics are related to the severity of anorexia nervosa and how these may complicate treatment.

How do you deal clinically with co-occurring restrictive eating disorders and autism?

Mette Bentz (Danmark)
Clinical Psychologist & Supervisor, PhD
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Centre
Mental Health Services in the Capital Region of Denmark

Dr Bentz will share clinical and research experience on restrictive eating disorders and autism based on her work with children, adolescents, and families. She will also share information on Professor Kate Tchanturia’s PEACE Pathway for Eating Disorders and Autism. The session is applicable to all age groups.

Avoidant-restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) and autism: strategies and resources

Anna Keski-Rahkonen (Finland)
Professor of Mental Health, MD, PhD, MPH
Department of Public Health
University of Helsinki

Selective eating and sensory sensitivities are almost a universal feature of autism. Some autistic people also develop ARFID. We will discuss typical features, diagnostic tools, mitigating strategies, helpful resources, and outcomes. The session is based on Dr Keski-Rahkonen’s extensive experience in working with neurodivergent young people and adults.

Long-term outcome of eating disorders

Chaired by Associate Prof. Gry Kjærsdam Telléus, PhD, Clinical Psychologist, Denmark

Challenges in the treatment of children and adolescents with ED

Chaired by Mette Bentz, PhD, Psychologist

Variations of outpatient family-based treatment are recommended as the first choice of treatment for children and adolescents. However, outpatient treatment is not always efficient; treatment and/or illness takes a toll on families, and parents are not the only factor influencing their child’s mental health, rendering parents feeling powerless. This symposium will thematize seemingly quite different aspects of the treatment of children and adolescents and invite joint discussions on adapting our services to the needs of families.

Preliminary program:

Social media, self-harm and eating disorders in children and adolescents: what should parents and therapists know?

Lotte Rubæk (Copenhagen, DK)
Psychologist
Head of Team for self-harm

Variations and modifications to family-based treatment: what do we know from the literature?

Signe Holm Pedersen (Copenhagen, DK)
Psychologist
Post doc.

Improving coherence between municipality social services and child and adolescent mental health care: project “Barn og unges helsetieneste”

Ester Espeset (Haugesund, NO)
Psychologist
PhD

Inpatient and day hospital treatment

Chaired by Pia Charpentier, Psychologist, Finland