Is Virtual Therapy Effective for Pediatric Eating Disorder Patients? An Exploratory Study

ABSTRACT

Objectives: As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, in-person pediatric eating disorder treatment was moved to a virtual format. The study explored the early treatment response and effectiveness of family-based treatment (FBT) delivered virtually. Method(s) Twenty patients were included in the study;10 patients who received virtual treatment during the pandemic were compared to 10 patients who received in-person treatment prior to the pandemic. All patients completed an in-person interdisciplinary comprehensive assessment and received a DSM-5 eating disorder diagnosis. Patients were included in the study if they were 90% or lower than an estimated target weight (ETW) at treatment start and FBT was recommended. The study examined patient weight restoration at 1-, 3-, and 6-months posttreatment start. Independent sample t tests assessed group differences, and a Fisher's exact test was used to evaluate the association between treatment group and weight restoration. Result(s) Weight restoration did not significantly differ between treatment groups (virtual vs in-person) at any time point. Weight gain between the virtual (M = 1.99 kg;SD = 1.25) and in-person (M = 1.51 kg;SD = 0.86) groups was similar at 1 month (p =.48). The percentage of estimated target weight (%ETW) was also not significantly different between the groups at 3 and 6 months (p >.05). Further, there was no association between treatment group and remission weight at 6 months (p >.05) (70% of patients in each group reached at least 95% of an ETW). Conclusion(s) The COVID-19 pandemic emphasized an already recognized need for increased access to evidence-based pediatric eating disorder treatments. Results suggest that pediatric eating disorder patients may benefit from family therapy delivered via a virtual platform. Study results are considered exploratory. Future research should utilize a randomized controlled design, larger sample, the inclusion of an eating pathology measure, and longer follow-up. EA, TVM, FT Copyright © 2022