Language matters: discourses of therapeutic optimism and recovery in the treatment of eating disorders

Key Points

• The aim is to advocate for a shift towards language that emphasizes recovery and patient collaboration in eating disorder treatment.
• Analyzed clinical discourses related to eating disorders.
• Examined the effects of recovery-oriented language on patient engagement and treatment culture.
• Identified components of inclusive, co-created language for patient interactions.
• Recovery-focused language significantly enhances patient engagement.
• Promoting a culture of therapeutic optimism leads to improved treatment outcomes.
• Adopting co-created language fosters mutual respect between patients and clinicians.