Augmentative Approaches in Family-Based Treatment for Adolescents with Restrictive Eating Disorders: A Systematic Review

Eur Eat Disord Rev. 2018 Mar;26(2):92-111. doi: 10.1002/erv.2577. Epub 2017 Dec 28.

Abstract

Objective: To systematically review the literature reporting outcomes of augmentative family-based treatment (FBT) interventions for adolescents with restrictive eating disorders (EDs).

Method: Articles were identified through a systematic search of five electronic databases (PsycINFO, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Database).

Results: Thirty articles were included, reporting on FBT augmentations featuring adjunctive treatment components, modified treatment structure and/or content with adherence to FBT principles, and adaptations allowing FBT delivery in different settings. All reported significant improvements in weight and/or ED symptoms at end-of-treatment, although few compared augmentative and standard FBT interventions and good quality follow-up data was generally lacking.

Conclusions: There is early evidence for the effectiveness of augmentative FBT-based approaches in facilitating weight and/or ED symptom improvements for adolescents with restrictive EDs. There remains a lack of robust evidence demonstrating superior effects of such approaches over standard FBT, and further controlled studies are required to expand on the current evidence. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.

Keywords: anorexia nervosa; family therapy; treatment.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Anorexia Nervosa / psychology
  • Anorexia Nervosa / therapy*
  • Body Weight / physiology*
  • Family Therapy / methods*
  • Feeding and Eating Disorders / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Treatment Outcome