Family Based Treatment (FBT) for Children & Adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa
This fact sheet outlines Family Based Treatment for Children & Adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa.
What is FBT?
Family Based Treatment (FBT) is an intensive treatment for children and adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa (AN).
FBT has been described in the Treatment Manual for Anorexia Nervosa: A Family-based Approach1. This approach was first developed at the Maudsley Hospital by Christopher Dare, Ivan Eisler and colleagues1 and is also referred to as Maudsley Family Based Therapy.
FBT is an outpatient treatment that uses the family as the primary resource to renourish the young person back to health. In this treatment, the therapist supports and guides the parents to take the responsibility for re-feeding their child and ceasing all other disorder behaviours until the young person is in a position to take control of their own eating.
Who is treatment for?
FBT is for children and adolescents (<19 years of age2) who are medically stable and have a short course of illness (<3 years)3-5. Five year follow-up studies demonstrate that success rates for adolescents in early stages of illness are between 50% and 90%6.
About FBT
FBT is a three-phase treatment that involves approximately 9-12 months of therapy delivered over 20 sessions1, although additional sessions should be given if indicated. Sessions are held weekly, fortnightly or monthly depending on what stage of treatment the young person is in.
Phase 1: The primary focus of phase 1 is to restore the young persons weight. Parents are empowered to take full control of managing food and other eating disorder behaviours to ensure that weight is restored.
Phase 2: The primary focus of phase 2 is to hand back responsibility and control around eating back to the young person.
Phase 3: The primary focus of phase 3 is to assist in the transition of the young person back into adolescent life and activities. Relapse prevention and ending treatment are discussed.
Who delivers FBT
FBT should be delivered by health professionals who have undergone specific training in FBT, are familiar with the treatment manual, have experience in delivering FBT or are under close clinical supervision.
FBT training
InsideOut offers online training in FBT. Check out the eLearning page on the website for health professional training packages.
References
- Recommended Reading
- Lock, J. (2011). Evaluation of family treatment models for eating disorders. Current Opinion in Psychiatry, 24(4), 274-279.
- Lock, J. (2015). An update on evidence-based psychosocial treatments for eating disorders in children and adolescents. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 44(5), 707-721.
- Mehler, P. & Brown, C. (2015). Anorexia nervosa – medical complications. Journal of Eating Disorders. 3(11), 1-8.
- Whitney, J. & Eisler, I. (2005). Theoretical and empirical models around caring for someone with an eating disorder: the reorganisation of family life and inter- personal maintenance factors. Journal of Mental Health, 14(6), 575-585.
- Parent, B. & Parent, T. (2008). Anorexia, Maudsley and an impressive recovery: one family’s story. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 44(1-2), 70-73.