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

Abstract

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. 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. significant improvements in physical and psychological outcomes were observed. this case series provides preliminary support for the efficacy of intensive family exposure-based CBT for treating adolescents with severe anorexia nervosa.