Journal article
Attachment-Based Family Therapy to Improve Family Functioning in Adolescent Binge-Spectrum Eating Disorders: An Initial Evaluation Via Case Series Design
Clinical child psychology and psychiatry
29 Jun 2023
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Binge-spectrum eating disorders (EDs; bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder) often develop during adolescence and are associated with serious psychological and physical consequences. Current treatments for adolescents are highly behavioral in nature and while efficacious, many patients do not reach remission indicating that current treatments fail to target a key maintenance factor for EDs. One potential maintenance factor is poor family functioning (FF). In particular, high family conflict (e.g., arguing, critical comments) and low family cohesion (e.g., warmth, support) are known to maintain ED behaviors. Poor FF can (1) cause or exacerbate an adolescent’s use of ED behaviors to cope with life stress and/or (2) inhibit parents from being a resource to adolescents during ED treatment. Attachment-Based Family Therapy (ABFT) is specifically designed to improve FF, and thus may be a promising adjunct to behavioral ED intervention strategies. ABFT, however, has not been tested in adolescents with binge-spectrum EDs. Thus, the current study is the first to evaluate a 16-week adapted ABFT treatment for adolescents with EDs (N = 8, Mage = 16.00, 71.43% female, 71.43% White) fusing together behavioral treatment for EDs with ABFT for highest possible impact. Eight families were treated in an open pilot trial to examine treatment feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy on FF and eating pathology. Overall, findings were promising. ABFT + B treatment was feasible and acceptable and showed preliminary evidence that it could improve FF and ED behaviors. Future research will test this intervention in a larger sample and further examine the role of FF in maintaining ED symptoms.
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Details
- Title
- Attachment-Based Family Therapy to Improve Family Functioning in Adolescent Binge-Spectrum Eating Disorders: An Initial Evaluation Via Case Series Design
- Creators
- Stephanie M. Manasse - Drexel UniversityJody Russon - Virginia TechElizabeth W. Lampe - Drexel UniversityAllie King - Drexel UniversitySophie R. Abber - Florida State UniversityClaire Trainor - Drexel UniversityLindsay M. Gillikin - University of WyomingSuzanne Levy - Drexel UniversityGuy Diamond - Drexel University
- Publication Details
- Clinical child psychology and psychiatry
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Number of pages
- 18
- Grant note
- K23DK124514 / National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (https://doi.org/10.13039/100000062)
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Psychological and Brain Sciences (Psychology); Center for Family Intervention Science; Center for Weight, Eating and Lifestyle Science (WELL) [Historical]
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001018449400001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85164119086
- Other Identifier
- 991020633157004721
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InCites Highlights
Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:
- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
- Psychology, Clinical
- Psychology, Developmental