Three-month follow-up in a family-based partial hospitalization program

Area of Science:

• Clinical Psychology
• Family Therapy
• Eating Disorder Treatment

Background:

• Family-based treatment is integrated into higher levels of eating disorder care.
• Limited outcome and follow-up data exist for these intensive programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess 3-month follow-up outcomes for patients in a family-based partial hospitalization/intensive outpatient program.
• To evaluate the sustainability of treatment gains after transitioning to less intensive care.

Main Methods:

• Patients completed self-report measures of eating disorder psychopathology and depression.
• Parents completed measures of self-efficacy and expressed emotion.
• Data were collected at the end of treatment and at 3-month follow-up.

Main Results:

• Eating disorder psychopathology and depression scores remained stable or improved at follow-up.
• Parental expressed emotion also remained stable or improved.
• Paternal self-efficacy was the only measure that did not show sustained improvement.

Conclusions:

• Family-based higher levels of care demonstrate sustained improvements at 3-month follow-up.
• Treatment gains are maintained after patients step down to less intensive care.
• Family-based interventions show promise for long-term eating disorder recovery.