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 ) .
Randomized clinical trial comparing family-based treatment with adolescent-focused individual therapy for adolescents with anorexia nervosa.
CONTEXT Evidence -based treatment trials for adolescents with anorexia nervosa are few . OBJECTIVE To evaluate the relative efficacy of family-based treatment ( FBT ) and adolescent-focused individual therapy ( AFT ) for adolescents with anorexia nervosa in full remission . DESIGN R and omized controlled trial . SETTING Stanford University and The University of Chicago ( April 2005 until March 2009 ) . PARTICIPANTS One hundred twenty-one participants , aged 12 through 18 years , with DSM-IV diagnosis of anorexia nervosa excluding the amenorrhea requirement . Intervention Twenty-four outpatient hours of treatment over 12 months of FBT or AFT . Participants were assessed at baseline , end of treatment ( EOT ) , and 6 months ' and 12 months ' follow-up posttreatment . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Full remission from anorexia nervosa defined as normal weight ( ≥95 % of expected for sex , age , and height ) and mean global Eating Disorder Examination score within 1 SD of published means . Secondary outcome measures included partial remission rates ( > 85 % of expected weight for height plus those who were in full remission ) and changes in body mass index percentile and eating-related psychopathology . RESULTS There were no differences in full remission between treatments at EOT . However , at both the 6- and 12-month follow-up , FBT was significantly superior to AFT on this measure . Family-based treatment was significantly superior for partial remission at EOT but not at follow-up . In addition , body mass index percentile at EOT was significantly superior for FBT , but this effect was not found at follow-up . Participants in FBT also had greater changes in Eating Disorder Examination score at EOT than those in AFT , but there were no differences at follow-up . CONCLUSION Although both treatments led to considerable improvement and were similarly effective in producing full remission at EOT , FBT was more effective in facilitating full remission at both follow-up points . TRIAL REGISTRATION clinical trials.gov Identifier : NCT00149786
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 ) .