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 ) .
Family therapy for adolescent anorexia nervosa: the results of a controlled comparison of two family interventions.
This paper reports the results of a r and omised treatment trial of two forms of outpatient family intervention for anorexia nervosa . Forty adolescent patients with anorexia nervosa were r and omly assigned to " conjoint family therapy " ( CFT ) or to " separated family therapy " ( SFT ) using a stratified design controlling for levels of critical comments using the Expressed Emotion index . The design required therapists to undertake both forms of treatment and the distinctiveness of the two therapies was ensured by separate supervisors conducting live supervision of the treatments . Measures were undertaken on admission to the study , at 3 months , at 6 months and at the end of treatment . Considerable improvement in nutritional and psychological state occurred across both treatment groups . On global measure of outcome , the two forms of therapy were associated with equivalent end of treatment results . However , for those patients with high levels of maternal criticism towards the patient , the SFT was shown to be superior to the CFT . When individual status measures were explored , there were further differences between the treatments . Symptomatic change was more marked in the SFT whereas there was considerably more psychological change in the CFT group . There were significant changes in family measures of Expressed Emotion . Critical comments between parents and patient were significantly reduced and that between parents was also diminished . Warmth between parents increased
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 ) .