There was no superiority of a specific approach .
Weight gains were more rapid in adolescents and inpatient treatment .
Background : The aim of the study was a systematic review of studies evaluating psychotherapeutic treatment approaches in anorexia nervosa and to compare their efficacy .
Weight gain was chosen as the primary outcome criterion .
We also aim ed to compare treatment effects according to service level ( inpatient vs. outpatient ) and age group ( adolescents vs. adults ) .
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Adjunctive Family Therapy and Treatment as Usual Following Inpatient Treatment for Anorexia Nervosa Adolescents
Research on treatments in anorexia nervosa ( AN ) is scarce . Although most of the therapeutic programs used in ‘ real world practice ’ in AN treatment resort to multidisciplinary approaches , they have rarely been evaluated . Objective To compare two multidimensional post-hospitalization out patients treatment programs for adolescents with severe AN :  Treatment as Usual ( TAU ) versus this treatment plus family therapy ( TAU+FT ) . Method Sixty female AN adolescents , aged 13 to 19 years , were included in a r and omized parallel controlled trial conducted from 1999 to 2002 for the recruitment , and until 2004 for the 18 months follow-up . Allocation to one of the two treatment groups ( 30 in each arm ) was r and omised . The TAU program included sessions for the patient alone as well as sessions with a psychiatrist for the patient and her parents . The TAU+FT program was identical to the usual one but also included family therapy sessions targeting intra-familial dynamics , but not eating disorder symptoms . The main Outcome Measure was the Morgan and Russell outcome category ( Good or Intermediate versus Poor outcome ) . Secondary outcome indicators included AN symptoms or their consequences ( eating symptoms , body mass index , amenorrhea , number of hospitalizations in the course of follow-up , social adjustment ) . The evaluators , but not participants , were blind to r and omization . Results At 18 months follow-up , we found a significant group effect for the Morgan and Russell outcome category in favor of the program with family therapy ( Intention-to-treat : TAU+FT : 12/30 ( 40 % ) ; TAU : 5/29 ( 17.2 % ) p = 0.05 ; Per Protocol analysis : respectively 12/26 ( 46.2 % ) ; 4/27 ( 14.8 % ) , p = 0.01 ) . Similar group effects were observed in terms of achievement of a healthy weight ( i.e. , BMI ≥10th percentile ) and menstrual status . Conclusions Adding family therapy sessions , focusing on intra-familial dynamics rather than eating symptomatology , to a multidimensional program improves treatment effectiveness in girls with severe AN . Trial Registration Controlled-trials.com IS RCT
There was no superiority of a specific approach .
Weight gains were more rapid in adolescents and inpatient treatment .
Background : The aim of the study was a systematic review of studies evaluating psychotherapeutic treatment approaches in anorexia nervosa and to compare their efficacy .
Weight gain was chosen as the primary outcome criterion .
We also aim ed to compare treatment effects according to service level ( inpatient vs. outpatient ) and age group ( adolescents vs. adults ) .