Adaptation and implementation of family-based treatment enhanced with dialectical behavior therapy skills for anorexia nervosa in community-based specialist clinics

ABSTRACT

Although family-based therapy (FBT) is a well-established treatment for anorexia nervosa, its implementation and effectiveness in clinical settings has been neglected. A group of seven therapists at a community-based eating disorders clinic were trained in skills-enhanced FBT and provided treatment to 11 youth with anorexia nervosa. Family-based skills training, which borrowed heavily from dialectical behavior therapy, was introduced in four additional sessions and then integrated throughout the remainder of FBT. FBT was perceived as appropriate and acceptable by all participants. Therapists reported high treatment fidelity. There was a large improvement in weight and moderate improvement in caregiver-reported eating disorder psychopathology but no clinically significant change by youth report. This study provides preliminary data on the implementation and effectiveness of FBT in the community.

Funding

Funding for this study was provided by Insight Behavioral Health Center, Chicago, Illinois (PI: Le Grange). Dr. Le Grange also receives royalties from Guilford Press and Routledge and is co-director of the Training Institute for Child and Adolescent Eating Disorders, LLC. During the time of this study, Dr. Accurso was supported by grant T32-MH082761 from NIMH. The remaining authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

Funding for this study was provided by Insight Behavioral Health Center, Chicago, Illinois (PI: Le Grange). Dr. Le Grange also receives royalties from Guilford Press and Routledge and is co-director of the Training Institute for Child and Adolescent Eating Disorders, LLC. During the time of this study, Dr. Accurso was supported by grant T32-MH082761 from NIMH. The remaining authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.