A group parent-training program: a novel approach for eating disorder management

To describe the rationale, development, and preliminary acceptability of a Group Parent Training Program (GPT) as an alternative approach for the treatment of adolescent eating disorders.

Sixteen families participated in a 16-session group treatment. After four months, parents were administered a treatment satisfaction questionnaire.

Parent response to the intervention was positive. All parents indicated GPT was essential for the management of their child, improved general parenting skills, improved their own self-care, and decreased the burden they experienced as a result of managing their child's illness.

Given the magnitude of task demands placed on a family for the management of adolescent eating disorders, there is the need for the development of effective intervention strategies that ease the stress of illness management for parents. Preliminary satisfaction data from GPT are promising and argue for a more systematic test of this intervention.