title: Telemedicine of family-based treatment for adolescent anorexia nervosa: A protocol of a treatment development study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Family-based treatment is an efficacious treatment available for adolescents with anorexia nervosa. Yet the implementation of this treatment, at least in the United States, is challenging due to a limited number of trained family-based treatment therapists and the concentration of these therapists in a limited number of urban centers. The use of telemedicine in the delivery of family-based treatment can increase access to this therapy for this patient population.
  
  
  METHODS
  This two-year treatment development study (December 2013-November 2015) follows a two-wave iterative case series design. The study is ongoing and addresses the treatment needs of families in remote, rural, or underrepresented parts of the United States by delivering family-based treatment via telemedicine (video chat). The first six months of the study was dedicated to selecting a cloud-based secure telemedicine portal for use with participants. Recruitment for the first of two consecutive case series (N = 5) began during month seven. After these five patients completed treatment, a systematic review of treatment via feedback from participants and therapists related to the delivery of this model and use of technology was completed. A second wave of recruitment is underway (N = 5). At the end of both waves (N = 10), and after a second review of treatment, we should be able to establish the feasibility and acceptability of family-based treatment delivered via telemedicine for this patient population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study is the first attempt to deliver family-based treatment for adolescents with anorexia nervosa via telemedicine. If delivering family-based treatment in this format is feasible, it will provide access to an evidence-based treatment for families heretofore unable to participate in specialist treatment for their child's eating disorder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, The University of Chicago Medicine, 5841 S. Maryland Avenue, MC 3077, Room B424, Chicago, IL 60637 USA.
authors.forename: Kristen E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, The University of Chicago Medicine, 5841 S. Maryland Avenue, MC 3077, Room B424, Chicago, IL 60637 USA.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Byrne
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, The University of Chicago Medicine, 5841 S. Maryland Avenue, MC 3077, Room B424, Chicago, IL 60637 USA.
authors.forename: Alexandria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goodyear
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, 3333 California Street, Laurel Heights Suite 245, Box 0503, San Francisco, CA 94143 USA.
authors.forename: Ryan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Reichel
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, 3333 California Street, Laurel Heights Suite 245, Box 0503, San Francisco, CA 94143 USA ; Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, 3333 California Street, Laurel Heights Suite 245, Box 0503, San Francisco, CA 94143 USA.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Le Grange
keywords: Adolescent medicine; Anorexia nervosa; Family-based treatment; Telemedicine