A systematic review of the impact of carer interventions on outcomes for patients with eating disorders.

PURPOSE: Eating disorder (ED) prevalence and illness severity is rapidly increasing. The complicated interplay of factors contributing to the maintenance of EDs, including family/carer influences, highlights the importance of carer interventions within ED treatment. Carer interventions demonstrate positive outcomes for carers themselves, though are also hypothesised to benefit the patient indirectly. A systematic review was conducted to greater understand the impact of carer interventions on ED patient outcomes. METHODS: Eight databases, including CINAHL, MEDLINE and PsychINFO, were systematically searched. Intervention studies for parent(s)/carer(s) of a patient with an ED were included, provided they reported outcomes for the patient. No publication date restrictions were set. Included studies were quality appraised. RESULTS: Twenty-eight studies met inclusion for the review; all of which varied in intervention type, duration, content and setting. Patient diagnosis and treatment setting were mixed across studies, though the majority focused on Anorexia Nervosa within outpatient settings. Intervention content broadly included consideration of relationship issues and interactional patterns, psychoeducation, skill development, behavioural management, and peer support. Therapeutic models utilised were diverse, including but not limited to: family, interpersonal, cognitive, and psychodynamic approaches. CONCLUSION: Several carer interventions showed positive outcomes for patients with EDs, with small group treatment formats being commonly used and proving effective through intervention content alongside a peer support element. Separate family therapy was suggested to be of equal efficacy, if not better, than family therapy alongside the patient. Recommendations for clinical practice and future research are considered. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 1: Systematic review, evidence mostly obtained from randomised controlled trials.

A meta-analysis of dropout from evidence-based psychological treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in children and young people.

Background: Despite the established evidence base of psychological interventions in treating PTSD in children and young people, concern that these trauma-focused treatments may 'retraumatise' patients or exacerbate symptoms and cause dropout has been identified as a barrier to their implementation. Dropout from treatment is indicative of its relative acceptability in this population. Objective: Estimate the prevalence of dropout in children and young people receiving a psychological therapy for PTSD as part of a randomized controlled trial (RCT). Methods: A systematic search of the literature was conducted to identify RCTs of evidence-based treatment of PTSD in children and young people. Proportion meta-analyses estimated the prevalence of dropout. Odds ratios compared the relative likelihood of dropout between different treatments and controls. Subgroup analysis assessed the impact of potential moderating variables. Results: Forty RCTs were identified. Dropout from all treatment or active control arms was estimated to be 11.7%, 95% CI [9.0, 14.6]. Dropout from evidence-based treatment (TFCBTs and EMDR) was 11.2%, 95% CI [8.2, 14.6]. Dropout from non-trauma focused treatments or controls was 12.8%, 95% CI [7.6, 19.1]. There was no significant difference in the odds of dropout when comparing different modalities. Group rather than individual delivery, and lay versus professional delivery, were associated with less dropout. Conclusions: Evidence-based treatments for children and young people with PTSD do not result in higher prevalence of dropout than non-trauma focused treatment or waiting list conditions. Trauma-focused therapies appear to be well tolerated in children and young people.

Antecedentes: A pesar de la base de evidencia establecida de intervenciones psicológicas en el tratamiento del TEPT en niños y gente joven, la preocupación por el que estos tratamientos focalizados en el trauma puedan 'retraumatizar' a los pacientes o exacerbar sus síntomas y causar abandono, ha sido identificada como una barrera para su implementación. El abandono del tratamiento es indicador de su aceptabilidad relativa en esta población.Objetivo: Estimar la prevalencia de abandono en niños y gente joven que reciben una terapia psicológica para el TEPT como parte de un ensayo aleatorizado controlado (RCT en su sigla en inglés).Métodos: Se realizó una búsqueda sistemática de la literatura para identificar RCTs de tratamientos basados en evidencia para el TEPT en niños y gente joven. Mediante metaanálisis de proporción se estimó la prevalencia de abandono. Los Odds Ratio compararon la probabilidad relativa de abandono entre diferentes tratamientos y controles. Mediante análisis de subgrupo se evaluó el impacto de potenciales variables moderadoras.Resultados: Se identificaron cuarenta RCTs. El abandono de todas las ramas de tratamiento o control activo se estimó en 11.7%, IC de 95% [9.0, 14.6]. El abandono de tratamientos basados en la evidencia (TF-CBTs y EMDR) fue de 11.2%, IC de 95% [8.2, 14.6]. El abandono de tratamientos sin foco en trauma o controles fue de 12.8%, IC de 95% [7.6, 19.1]. No hubo diferencia significativa en la probabilidad de abandono al comparar las diferentes modalidades. La entrega en grupos Individual y por legos versus profesionales, se asociaron a menor abandono.Conclusiones: Los tratamientos basados en evidencia para niños y gente joven con tept no resultan en una mayor prevalencia de abandono que los tratamientos sin foco en trauma o condiciones de lista de espera. las terapias focalizadas en el trauma parecen ser bien toleradas en niños y gente joven.