[Lunch session, weight gain and their interaction with the psychopathology of anorexia nervosa in adolescents].
OBJECTIVE
Evaluate the effectiveness of the family meal intervention (FMI) on weight gain.


METHODS
Upon admission 12 adolescents diagnosed with anorexia nervosa were randomly assigned to two groups of outpatient family - based therapy, treated during 6 months, and followed-up at 12 months. Measures were administered at each of these instances. Groups differed only with regard to the FMI.


RESULTS
Both treatments produced considerable and comparable improvement in biological parameters, in depression, and in eating and general psychological symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the FMI did not appear to have a significant effect on weight gain, results suggest it might have a differential benefit for the intractable self-starving patient with greater psychopathology. The finding that weight recovery was not associated to general psychological outcome in those patients with more psychiatric co - morbidity, suggests caution when prioritizing clinical goals.
Rausch Herscovici
Cecile
C
Facultad de Psicología y Psicopedagogía, Universidad del Salvador, Buenos Aires, Argentina. cecilerh@fibertel.com.ar
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015430:Weight Gain