title: An Exploratory Evaluation of the Family Meal Intervention for Adolescent Anorexia Nervosa.
abstract: Although weight restoration is a crucial factor in the recovery of anorexia nervosa (AN), there is scarce evidence regarding which components of treatment promote it. In this paper, the author reports on an effort to utilize research methods in her own practice, with the goal of evaluating if the family meal intervention (FMI) had a positive effect on increasing weight gain or on improving other general outcome measures. Twenty-three AN adolescents aged 12-20 years were randomly assigned to two forms of outpatient family therapy (with [FTFM] and without [FT]) using the FMI, and treated for a 6-month duration. Their outcome was compared at the end of treatment (EOT) and at a 6-month posttreatment follow-up (FU). The main outcome measure was weight recovery; secondary outcome measures were the Morgan Russell Global Assessment Schedule (MRHAS), amenorrhea, general psychological symptoms, and eating disorder symptoms. The majority of the patients in both groups improved significantly at EOT, and these changes were sustained through FU. Given its primarily clinical nature, findings of this investigation project preclude any conclusion. Although the FMI did not appear to convey specific benefits in causing weight gain, clinical observation suggests the value of a flexible stance in implementation of the FMI for the severely undernourished patient with greater psychopathology.
authors.affiliation: Committee on Nutrition, Health and Quality of Life, International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI Argentina), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Cecile Rausch
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6067-8927
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Herscovici
authors.affiliation: Committee on Nutrition, Health and Quality of Life, International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI Argentina), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Irina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kovalskys
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Burwood, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: Liliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Orellana
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000209:etiology; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D005196:Family Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D062407:Meals / Q000523:psychology*; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D063189:Symptom Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015430:Weight Gain; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Anorexia Nervosa; Exploratory Investigation; Family Meal; Family Therapy; Outpatient