Evidence-based psychotherapy for treatment of anorexia nervosa in children and adolescents: systematic review

Abstract Background: Efficacy studies on the treatment of anorexia nervosa (AN) in childhood and adolescence are scarce and systematic reviews are almost non-existent. Objective: Systematic review of the literature regarding the modalities of psychological intervention based on evidence used in the treatment of AN in childhood and adolescence. Methods: The research was carried out in the databases: PubMed, PsycINFO and Cochrane, using the combined keywords: anorexia nervosa and evidence-based therapy. Articles published between 1990 and 2015 were assessed. Results: Of the 139 eligible articles, 14 were selected, of which 10 (71.4%) were conducted in the United States and England. The sample ranged from 9 to 167 participants. Randomized Clinical Trial represented the most frequent design (n = 9; 63.4%), with more than half of the interventions structured in 20 or more sessions (n = 9, 64.3%). Nine types of treatments were tested, with the most tested being Family-Based Treatment (FBT) (n = 7; 50%). Interventions involving the family seem to be more effective, however, the rates for complete remission are modest. Discussion: Although evidence of efficacy was verified in the treatments analyzed, the limited number of studies, the various methodological limitations and the methodological heterogeneity between studies make the findings inconclusive.

Age and gender changes in children and adolescent patients of a Brazilian eating disorder program

ABSTRACT Background International studies have demonstrated an increase in the prevalence of boys and a decrease of patients’ age at the beginning of outpatient treatment for eating disorders (ED). Objective To evaluate if these changes are also present in the Brazilian population participating in the PROTAD, a Brazilian ED program, and to discuss its clinical implication for treatment. Methods Cross-sectional study. We evaluated 150 medical records of patients under 18 years diagnosed with ED (DSM IV-TR). Patients were divided into two groups: G1 (2001-2007) (n = 77) and G2 (2008-2014) (n = 73). The girl/boy proportion and the mean age of patients were compared. Results In G1, six boys (7.8%) were admitted (girl/boy proportion: 11.8:1), while in G2, 16 (22%) boys were admitted (girl/boy proportion: 3.5:1) (p < 0.05). The mean age in G1 was 15.6 years (SD = 1.7; 95%CI: 15.2-15.9), whereas the mean age in G2 was 14.9 years (SD = 1.9; 95%CI: 14.4-15.3) (p > 0.05). Discussion The increase in the number of boys treated for EDs reported in international studies was also found at the PROTAD. Contrary to what has been reported in international studies, the mean age of patients at the PROTAD did not decrease significantly. Gender and sexual orientation issues, clinical presentation, prior overweight history and culture/media impact on boys should be addressed by the healthcare team to increase the therapeutic efficacy.

The mother-daughter relationship in eating disorders: the psychotherapy group of mothers / Relação mãe-filha nos transtornos alimentares: o grupo psicoterapêutico de mães / Relation mère-fille et troubles alimentaires: le groupe psychothérapeutique de mères / La relación madre-hija en los trastornos alimentarios: el grupo psicoterapéutico de madres / Mutter-tochter beziehung im zusammenhang mit essstörungen: die psychotherapeutische gruppe von mütter

Psychotherapeutic interventions that bring about differentiation, separation, individuation and autonomy in the mother-daughter relationship are recommended as treatment for eating disorders. With this goal in mind, a psychotherapy group for mothers was organized in an outpatient program for adolescents with eating disorders at a public institution, as one of the psychotherapeutic approaches in the multidisciplinary treatment of adolescent patients. Evidence suggests that this approach can be relevant and effective in the treatment of eating disorders.

Intervenções psicoterapêuticas que promovam a diferenciação, a separação, a individuação e a autonomia na relação mãe-filha são preconizadas e enfatizadas no tratamento dos transtornos alimentares. Com esse objetivo foi instituído o Grupo Psicoterapêutico de Mães no programa de transtornos alimentares de uma instituição pública , como uma das abordagens psicoterapêuticas no tratamento multidisciplinar dos pacientes adolescentes e que vem se mostrando uma intervenção pertinente e eficiente no tratamento desses transtornos.

Les interventions psychothérapeutiques qui favorisent la différenciation, la séparation, l'individuation et l'autonomie dans la relation mère-fille sont recommandées et mises en relief dans le traitement des troubles de l'alimentation. C'est avec ce but que le Groupe Psychothérapeutique de Mères a été inclus dans le programme des troubles de l'alimentation d'une institution publique comme une des approches psychothérapeutiques d'un traitement pluridisciplinaire de patients adolescents. Les résultats suggèrent qu'il s'agit d'une intervention pertinente et efficace pour le traitement des troubles alimentaires.

Las intervenciones psicoterapéuticas que promueven la diferenciación, la separación, la individuación y la autonomía en la relación madre-hija, son recomendadas y enfatizadas en el tratamiento de los trastornos alimentarios. Con este objetivo el Grupo Psicoterapéutico de Madres, se ha establecido en el programa de trastornos alimentarios de adolescentes de una institución pública, como uno de los enfoques psicoterapéuticos en el tratamiento multidisciplinario de los pacientes adolescentes. Las evidencias sugieren que es una intervención relevante y eficaz para ser utilizada en el tratamiento de trastornos de la alimentación.

In der Behandlung von Essstörungen werden psychotherapeutische Interventionen, die die Absonderung, Trennung, Individualisierung und Autonomie in der Mutter-Tochter Beziehung fördern, empfohlen und hervorgehoben. Die Grupo Psicoterapêutico de Mães (Psychotherapeutische Gruppe von Mütter) wurde mit diesem Ziel im Programm für Essstörungen einer öffentlichen Einrichtung gebildet. Sie stellt eine der psychotherapeutischen Ansätze in der multidisziplinären Behandlung von Teenager-Patienten dar und erweist sich als eine angemessene und erfolgreiche Intervention in der Behandlung dieser Störungen.

Grupo psicoeducativo multifamiliar no tratamento dos transtornos alimentares na adolescência / Multifamily psycho-educational group and treatment of adolescents with eating disorders / Grupo psicoeducativo multifamiliar y tratamiento de adolescentes con trastornos de la conducta alimentaria

A proposta deste artigo é apresentar o grupo psicoeducativo multifamiliar do ambulatório do Programa de Atendimento, Ensino e Pesquisa em Transtornos Alimentares da Infância e Adolescência - PROTAD - do Instituto de Psiquiatria, do Hospital das Clínicas, da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, PROTAD-AMBULIM-HC-IPq-FMUSP, como uma das modalidades do tratamento multidisciplinar oferecidas a pacientes adolescentes com transtornos alimentares e a suas famílias. O artigo baseia-se na experiência dos encontros mensais da equipe, nos quais participam os familiares e cuidadores dos pacientes adolescentes com transtornos alimentares do ambulatório, e expõe o modelo de grupo psicoeducativo empregado, relacionando-o aos achados da literatura e à prática clínica.

The psycho-educational multifamily group is part of a multidisciplinary treatment offered to adolescents with eating disorders and their families, in the out-patient Program for Children and Adolescents with Eating Disorders - PROTAD - of the Institute of Psychiatry, of Hospital das Clínicas, Medicine College, University of Sao Paulo, PROTAD-AMBULIM-HC-IPq-FMUSP. This article is based at the experience from the monthly meetings with the families and caregivers, from the out-patient program for adolescent patients with eating disorders, and exhibit the employed psycho-educational group model, linking it to the specific literature and the clinical practice.

La propuesta de este artículo es presentar el grupo psicoeducativo multifamiliar del ambulatorio del Programa de Atención, Enseñanza e Investigación en Trastornos Alimentarios en la Infancia y en la Adolescencia - PROTAD - del Instituto de Psiquiatría del Hospital de las Clínicas de la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad de São Paulo, PROTAD-AMBULIM-HC-IPq-FMUSP, como una de las modalidades de tratamiento multidisciplinario proporcionado por PROTAD a pacientes adolescentes con trastornos alimentarios y a sus familias. En especial, el artículo parte de la experiencia obtenida en los encuentros mensuales con la participación de familiares y cuidadores de los pacientes adolescentes con trastornos alimentarios del ambulatorio y expone el modelo de grupo psicoeducativo aplicado, relacionándolo a los modelos encontrados en la literatura médica y a la práctica clínica.

A abordagem familiar no tratamento da anorexia e bulimia nervosa / Family assessment in the treatment of anorexia and bulimia nervosa

OO final do século XX enfatiza a inclusão da família no tratamento de pacientes portadores de anorexia e bulimia nervosa. Pesquisas (Castro et al.,2000; Webster et al.,2000) colocam como relevante considerar a estrutura familiar, as práticas conversacionais e os legados transgeracionais como elementos que podem estar contribuindo, de modo significativo, no desenvolvimento ou na manutenção dos transtornos alimentares. No Ambulatório de Bulimia e Transtornos Alimentares e no Projeto de Atendimento a Crianças e Adolescentes do IPQ, o grande desafio dos terapeutas de família tem sido compartilhar com famílias e pacientes suas histórias repletas de inseguranças e angústias e construir uma ponte de união entre a família e a equipe multidisciplinar, para que a compreensão dos significados, refletida por todos, possa ser agilizada e transformada em novas contribuiçäes de vida para as pacientes e seus familiares.