Sundhedsprofessionelles praksiserfaringer med psykiatrisk behandling af unge med anorexia nervosa: En kvalitativ interviewundersøgelse

Abstract

Abstract Aim of the study This thesis explores how healthcare professionals experience and manage the interplay between psychological treatment and the handling of acute somatic conditions in the psychiatric treatment of adolescents with anorexia nervosa (AN). Drawing on John Dewey's pragmatism and Theodore Schatzki's practice theory, this study conceptualizes clinical practice as situated, reflective, and relational. Methodology and Theoretical Framework The thesis is grounded in a qualitative research design, applying semi-structured interviews with five healthcare professionals from four disciplines: psychology, pedagogy, psychiatry/medicine, and nursing. The analysis follows a reflexive thematic approach, informed by inductive as well as abductive reasoning. The study is situated within a pragmatic epistemology, where knowledge is seen as contextually and relationally constructed. Furthermore Dewey’s concepts such as meaning-making and indeterminate situations, alongside Schatzki’s notions of practice logics and teleoaffective structures, were used to interpret how professionals navigate clinical complexity. Main Findings Three analytical themes were identified: 1) professionals’ experiences with balancing somatic stabilization and psychological care by drawing on practical judgment and relational strategies tailored to individual patients; 2) emotional strain is managed through reflective understandings and collegial support, especially when coercion is required; 3) interdisciplinary collaboration includes both cooperation and tensions, where perceived hierarchies can challenge professional meaning-making and influence. The findings highlight that clinical decisions are not solely technical, but ethically and emotionally embedded in practice. Discussion: Findings, Strengths, Bias, and Theoretical Reflection A key strength of the study is its cross-professional perspective, which offers a nuanced view of interdisciplinary treatment practices. However, my background as a psychology student may have shaped interpretation and emphasis, raising potential bias in the weighting of perspectives. The combination of Dewey and Schatzki enabled a rich understanding of meaning-making and context-specific practices, yet the theories had limitations in addressing power relations and disciplinary hierarchies, suggesting a need to include perspectives on power dynamics. Practical implications This thesis contributes new insight into how healthcare professionals make sense of and act within the complex treatment of adolescent with AN. It shows how reflective and relational work underpins clinical action and calls for organizational structures that support integrated, emotionally aware, and ethically grounded care. The study broadens existing knowledge by highlighting how meaning is created and sustained in the tension between system demands, professional values, and patient relationships. Conclusion This thesis concludes that healthcare professionals navigate the complex interplay between somatic stabilization and psychological care through reflective, relational, and context- sensitive practices. Treatment is shaped not only by clinical guidelines but also by personal experience, emotional engagement, and interdisciplinary dynamics. The study highlights the need for organizational support that values integrated, collaborative, and ethically grounded care.

A master thesis from Aalborg University

Sundhedsprofessionelles praksiserfaringer med psykiatrisk behandling af unge med anorexia nervosa: En kvalitativ interviewundersøgelse

[Health care professionals' experiences with psychiatric treatment of adolescents with anorexia nervosa: A qualitative interview study]