Comparison of long-term outcomes in adolescents with anorexia nervosa treated with family therapy.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the relative effectiveness of a short versus long course of family-based therapy (FBT) for adolescent anorexia nervosa at long-term follow-up.


METHODS
This study used clinical and structured interviews to assess psychological and psychosocial outcomes of adolescents (ages 12-18 years at baseline) who were previously treated in a randomized clinical trial using family therapy between 1999 and 2002.


RESULTS
Eighty-three percent (71/86) of subjects participated in follow-up assessments of current psychological and psychosocial functioning. In addition, 49% (35) were interviewed using the Eating Disorder Examination. Mean length of follow-up was 3.96 years (range 2.3-6.0 years). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups on any measure at long-term follow-up. As a whole, the group was doing well with 89% above 90% ideal body weight, 74% with Eating Disorder Examination scores within the normal range, and 91% of postmenarcheal females not on birth control had menstrual return.


CONCLUSIONS
A short course of family therapy is as effective as a longer course at follow-up.
Lock
James
J
Drs. Lock and Agras are with the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA; Dr. Couturier is with the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: jimlock@stanford.edu.
Couturier
Jennifer
J
Drs. Lock and Agras are with the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA; Dr. Couturier is with the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
Agras
W Stewart
WS
Drs. Lock and Agras are with the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA; Dr. Couturier is with the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
D000293:Adolescent; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D005196:Family Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome