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 ) .
Clinical effectiveness of a skills training intervention for caregivers in improving patient and caregiver health following in-patient treatment for severe anorexia nervosa: pragmatic randomised controlled trial
Background Families express a need for information to support people with severe anorexia nervosa . Aims To examine the impact of the addition of a skills training intervention for caregivers ( Experienced Caregivers Helping Others , ECHO ) to st and ard care . Method Patients over the age of 12 ( mean age 26 years , duration 72 months illness ) with a primary diagnosis of anorexia nervosa and their caregivers were recruited from 15 in-patient services in the UK . Families were r and omised to ECHO ( a book , DVDs and five coaching sessions per caregiver ) or treatment as usual .  Patient ( n=178 ) and caregiver ( n=268 ) outcomes were measured at discharge and 6 and 12 months after discharge . Results Patients with caregivers in the  ECHO group had reduced eating disorder psychopathology ( EDE-Q ) and improved quality of life ( WHO-Quol ; both effects small ) and reduced in-patient bed days ( 7–12 months post-discharge ) . Caregivers in the ECHO group had reduced burden ( Eating Disorder Symptom Impact Scale , EDSIS ) , expressed emotion ( Family Question naire , FQ ) and time spent caregiving at 6 months but these effects were diminished at 12 months . Conclusions Small but sustained improvements in symptoms and bed use are seen in the intervention group . Moreover , caregivers were less burdened and spent less time providing care . Caregivers had most benefit at 6 months suggesting that booster sessions , perhaps jointly with the patients , may be needed to maintain the effect . Sharing skills and information with caregivers may be an effective way to improve outcomes . This r and omised controlled trial ( RCT ) was registered with Current Controlled Trials IS RCT N06149665 . Declaration of interest J.T. is a co-author of the book used in the ECHO intervention and receives royalties . Copyright and usage © The Royal College of Psychiatrists 2015 . This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Non-Commercial , No Derivatives ( CC BY-NC-ND ) licence
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 ) .