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Exploring possible mechanisms of change in family‐based treatment for adolescent bulimia nervosa
Author(s) -
Lock James,
Le Grange Daniel,
Crosby Ross
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of family therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.52
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1467-6427
pISSN - 0163-4445
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-6427.2008.00430.x
Subject(s) - bulimia nervosa , psychopathology , psychology , family therapy , psychotherapist , randomized controlled trial , eating disorders , clinical psychology , psychiatry , medicine
Objective: Mediators of treatment for family‐based treatment are explored for outcomes among adolescents with bulimia nervosa (BN). Method: Using data from a recently completed randomized clinical trial (RCT) comparing family‐based treatment (FBT) to supportive psychotherapy (SPT) we examined possible mediators of treatment outcome. Results: Results suggest that FBT‐BN was more effective than SPT in producing remission by virtue of achieving greater reductions in eating disorder psychopathology by mid‐treatment. Specifically, reductions in cognitions related to BN as assessed by the EDE appeared to be the differentiating mechanism. Conclusion: It is reasonable to hypothesize that change in the EDE subscales mediates outcome for FBT‐BN. Future studies with sufficient power to examine this possibility as an a priori hypothesis would help to better understand how FBT‐BN works and may also help to guide future treatment refinement and development.