Adolescent eating disorder symptoms, depression and anxiety, the impact of their symptoms on their parents, and parental self-efficacy were assessed before beginning family-based day hospital treatment, and at 3 and 6 months post-assessment. Parents' self-efficacy increased during the first 3 months of treatment, and their knowledge and confidence in their effectiveness against the eating disorder continued to increase between 3 and 6 months post-assessment. Adolescent eating disorder symptoms, depression and anxiety, and the impact of the symptoms on their parents decreased between 3 and 6 months post-assessment. The results suggest that family-based treatment can be adapted to day hospital programmes for adolescents. The results also provide preliminary support for a treatment duration of at least 6 months.Note: Means in the same row that do not share subscripts differ at P < 0.05. Clinical T-scores: elevated = 67-99; typical = 25-66, low = 1-24.Adapting family-based therapy 113
A low-cost, intensive emotion-focused family therapy intervention shows promise for parents of individuals with an eating disorder, regardless of their loved one's age, symptom profile or involvement in treatment. Working with parents' emotions and emotional reactions to their child's struggles has the potential to improve supportive efforts. An emotion-focused family therapy intervention for parents yields high satisfaction rates, improves parental self-efficacy and reduces fears regarding their involvement, including self-blame.
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