Involving family in eating disorder treatment is a growing trend that has significant benefits. The family of a person with an eating disorder often feels the disorder's impact the most. Including family members in treatment and the recovery process can give them a sense of relief from not knowing what to do.
What does family-based treatment provide that other forms of therapy can't? If there are risks, what are they, and how can families enter into treatment with their eyes open?
A 2007 University of Chicago Medical Center study compared therapy approaches in 80 adolescents with bulimia nervosa. Half of the adolescents received family-based treatment, in which families monitor eating patterns and encourage healthy eating. The other half received individual supportive psychotherapy. The study found that almost 40% of those with family involvement were able to avoid binging and purging after six months, while only 18% of those with individual supportive psychotherapy could stop binging and purging at that time.
The study seems to confirm the hopeful notes coming from supporters of the Maudsley method, a family-based approach originally designed for adolescents (under 18) with anorexia nervosa who live with their parents. The Maudsley method ensures that no one is blamed for the eating disorder. It seeks to develop common goals for parents and their sons and daughters. In the case of anorexia, the initial goal is weight gain -- a wise first goal, since other therapy goals are easier to achieve when the body functions better. After sufficient and sustainable weight gain is achieved, treatment moves on to giving control of eating back to the son or daughter, and finally to other issues that may or may not be related to the family. Researchers have now adapted the Maudsley method for bulimia nervosa.
Consistently successful eating disorder treatment has been elusive. Many theories exist about how eating disorders arise, and just as many theories exist about how to treat eating disorders. Studies that have evaluated the success of these therapies show relatively poor results. Many treatment programs take a multifaceted approach, addressing the physical, emotional, nutritional, social, and spiritual state of those struggling with eating disorders.
