Family therapy for adolescent eating disorders: an update

Family therapy has featured in the treatment of adolescent eating disorders for over 40 years, and the evolution of family therapy approaches, through a variety of theoretical lenses, has been significant. For instance, the recent dissemination of family-based treatment has resulted in a growing number of controlled empirical trials which continue to inform and augment treatment outcomes. In addition, a burgeoning number of alternate approaches to family therapy for eating disorders leave clinicians with more clinical considerations in practicing family therapy for eating disorders. In this paper, we aim to review the recent developments in family therapy for adolescent eating disorders, underscoring the impact on clinical practice and the likely implications for future research.