title: Therapeutic alliance in two treatments for adolescent anorexia nervosa.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between therapeutic alliance and treatment outcome (remission status) in family-based treatment (FBT) and adolescent-focused therapy (AFT) for adolescents with anorexia nervosa (AN).
  
  
  METHODS
  Independent observers rated audiotapes of early therapy sessions using the Working Alliance Inventory-Observer Version (WAI-o). Outcome was defined using established cut-points for full and partial remission. To control for effects of early symptom improvement, changes in weight- and eating-related psychopathology prior to the alliance session were calculated and entered as a covariate in each analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants in AFT had significantly higher alliance scores; however, overall scores were high in both therapies. The alliance was not a predictor of full remission for either treatment, though it was a non-specific predictor for partial remission.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Therapeutic alliance is achievable in adolescents with AN in both AFT and FBT, but demonstrated no relationship to full remission of the disorder.
authors: PGSP-Stanford Consortium, Palo Alto, California, USA. sforsberg@stanford.edu
authors: Sarah
authors: S
authors: Forsberg
authors: Elizabeth
authors: E
authors: LoTempio
authors: Susan
authors: S
authors: Bryson
authors: Kathleen Kara
authors: KK
authors: Fitzpatrick
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Le Grange
authors: James
authors: J
authors: Lock
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005196:Family Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D012074:Remission Induction; D012649:Self Concept; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome