Intensive family exposure-based cognitive-behavioral treatment for adolescents with anorexia nervosa.

BACKGROUND: Anorexia nervosa exhibits high comorbidity rates and shared features with anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Anxiety-based etiological models have proposed that fear of eating-related stimuli is the central mechanism around which avoidance of food and food-related rituals are performed. Building on this approach, exposure-based interventions have demonstrated promising results. Limited evidence in adolescents encourages the evaluation of exposure approaches in this population. METHOD: The current study presents a preliminary evaluation, in eight adolescents with anorexia nervosa, of an exposure-based CBT featuring an intensive format and parental involvement. RESULTS: significant improvements in physical and psychological outcomes were observed. CONCLUSIONS: this case series provides preliminary support for the efficacy of intensive family exposure-based CBT for treating adolescents with severe anorexia nervosa.

Intensive family exposure-based cognitive-behavioral treatment for adolescents with anorexia nervosa / Tratamiento cognitivo-conductual intensivo familiar con exposición para adolescentes con anorexia nerviosa

Background: Anorexia nervosa exhibits high comorbidity rates and shared features with anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Anxiety-based etiological models have proposed that fear of eating-related stimuli is the central mechanism around which avoidance of food and food-related rituals are performed. Building on this approach, exposure-based interventions have demonstrated promising results. Limited evidence in adolescents encourages the evaluation of exposure approaches in this population. Method: The current study presents a preliminary evaluation, in eight adolescents with anorexia nervosa, of an exposure-based CBT featuring an intensive format and parental involvement. Results: significant improvements in physical and psychological outcomes were observed. Conclusions: this case series provides preliminary support for the efficacy of intensive family exposure-based CBT for treating adolescents with severe anorexia nervosa (AU)

Antecedentes: la anorexia nerviosa presenta una alta comorbilidad y características compartidas con los trastornos de ansiedad y el trastorno obsesivo-compulsivo. Los modelos etiológicos centrados en la ansiedad han propuesto que el miedo a los estímulos relacionados con la alimentación es el mecanismo principal por el cual se llevan a cabo la evitación de la comida y los rituales relacionados con la alimentación. Basándose en este enfoque las intervenciones centradas en las técnicas de exposición han demostrado resultados prometedores. La escasa evidencia en adolescentes motiva la evaluación de los enfoques basados en la exposición en esta población. Método: en el presente estudio se llevó a cabo una evaluación preliminar de la TCC con exposición en formato intensivo e inclusión familiar, en ocho adolescentes con anorexia nerviosa. Resultados: se observaron mejoras significativas en las medidas de resultado físicas y psicológicas. Conclusiones: el presente estudio de serie de casos proporciona evidencia preliminar de la eficacia de la TCC intensiva familiar con exposición para adolescentes con anorexia nerviosa severa (AU)