Family-Based Treatment for Primary Care: An Observational Study of a Community Sample of Youth With Restrictive Eating Disorders

Objective: To examine the outcomes of a clinical sample of young patients with restrictive eating disorders who received Family-Based Treatment for Primary Care (FBT-PC). Methods: Participants were 134 youth (mean age = 15.7 years) and their caregiver(s). Participants and caregivers completed measures of eating disorder symptomatology, quality of life, and caregiver self-efficacy. Results: Of the 134 patients who received at least one session of FBT-PC, 55.9% completed treatment, 20.1% were followed until they began a higher level of care, and 23.8% were non-completers. Weekly measures for the full sample were evaluated using intention-to-treat analyses. Patient-reported scores on the ED-15 improved by −0.1 (SE = 0.02, F_(1,133)=26.4, p < 0.0001) per week, and caregivers' ratings of patient symptoms also improved by 0.85 (SE = 0.2, F_(1,133)=13.1, p = 0.0003) per week. Patient's BMI percentile increased by 1.25 points per week (SE = 0.14, F_(1,133) = 83.9, p < 0.0001). For patients who completed FBT-PC, eating disorder symptoms, per patient- (M = −1.43, p < 0.0001) and caregiver-report (M = −1.33 p < 0.0001) decreased significantly from baseline to end of treatment. Patient's quality of life increased significantly from baseline to end of treatment (M = 21.6, p < 0.0001) and caregivers showed significant increases in self-efficacy (M = 3.41, p < 0.0001, d = 0.856). At the end of treatment, 62.5% of patients with complete data met criteria for full research remission, and 44.6% met criteria for full clinical remission. Discussion: Findings provide preliminary support for FBT-PC as an effective treatment for youth with restrictive eating disorders. Additional research is needed to replicate these findings in other primary care settings and to understand the durability of treatment effects.