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The Effectiveness of Family-Based Therapy for Eating Disorders in Adolescents: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Abstract
Family-Based Therapy (FBT), also known as the Maudsley Approach, has been recognized as a leading treatment for adolescents with eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. This meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluates the efficacy of FBT in reducing eating disorder symptoms and improving overall functioning in adolescents. Through a comprehensive review of the literature, the meta-analysis synthesizes effect sizes from RCTs assessing the effectiveness of FBT compared to control conditions (e.g., individual therapy, supportive therapy) in targeting core symptoms of eating disorders, including restrictive eating, binge eating, purging behaviors, and weight restoration. Additionally, it examines potential moderators of treatment outcomes, such as treatment duration, family involvement, therapist expertise, and participant characteristics (e.g., age, duration of illness), to better understand the factors influencing the effectiveness of FBT for adolescents with eating disorders.
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References
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