A shift to placing parents in charge: Does it improve weight gain in youth with anorexia?

Family-based treatment (FBT) has emerged as a promising approach for medically stable youth with anorexia nervosa (AN). While there is evidence that therapists embrace the core principles of FBT, most face barriers in implementing the model with fidelity. Little research has been conducted to determine whether adhering to the core methods of placing parents in charge are sufficient in restoring weight in youth with AN. This study involved a chart review of youth under 16 years of age, treated by a Canadian tertiary care health centre-based eating disorders team (EDT). The purpose was to compare the weight gain of youth treated before and after the team was trained in FBT and shifted to empowering parents to be in charge of weight gain. As predicted, youth who participated in family sessions adhering to the 'parents in charge' approach (PIC, N=32) made greater gains in percentage of ideal body weight (%IBW) and were more likely to reach body weights within a healthy range as compared with youth (N=14) who participated in a 'non-specific therapy' (NST) involving expert driven psycho-educational family sessions. Youth whose parents were placed in charge of weight gain were also significantly less likely to be hospitalized on the psychiatry unit for weight restoration, had significantly shorter mean duration of stays on this unit, and required tube-feeding less frequently than youth who participated in NST. Collectively, the results suggest that placing parents in charge of refeeding promotes efficient weight gain, while decreasing the need for more intensive intervention.

Responsiveness of the Eating Disorders Quality of Life Scale (EDQLS) in a longitudinal multi-site sample.

BACKGROUND: In eating disorders (EDs), treatment outcome measurement has traditionally focused on symptom reduction rather than functioning or quality of life (QoL). The Eating Disorders Quality of Life Scale (EDQLS) was recently developed to allow for measurement of broader outcomes. We examined responsiveness of the EDQLS in a longitudinal multi-site study. METHODS: The EDQLS and comparator generic QoL scales were collected in person at baseline, and 3 and 6 months from 130 participants (mean age 25.6 years; range 14-60) in 12 treatment programs in four Canadian provinces. Total score differences across the time points and responsiveness were examined using both anchor- and distribution-based methods. RESULTS: 98 (75%) and 85 (65%) responses were received at 3 and 6 months respectively. No statistically significant differences were found between the baseline sample and those lost to follow-up on any measured characteristic. Mean EDQLS total scores increased from 110 (SD = 24) to 124.5 (SD = 29) at 3 months and 129 (SD = 28) at 6 months, and the difference by time was tested using a general linear model (GLM) to account for repeated measurement (p < .001). Responsiveness was good overall (Cohen's d = .61 and .80), and confirmed using anchor methods across 5 levels of self-reported improvement in health status (p < .001). Effect sizes across time were moderate or large for for all age groups. Internal consistency (Chronbach's alpha=.96) held across measurement points and patterns of responsiveness held across subscales. EDQLS responsiveness exceeded that of the Quality of Life Inventory, the Short Form-12 (mental and physical subscales) and was similar to the 16-dimension quality of life scale. CONCLUSIONS: The EDQLS is responsive to change in geographically diverse and clinically heterogeneous programs over a relatively short time period in adolescents and adults. It shows promise as an outcome measure for both research and clinical practice.

Development and multi-site validation of a new condition-specific quality of life measure for eating disorders.

BACKGROUND: In eating disorders (EDs) treatment, outcome measurement has traditionally focused on symptom reduction rather than functioning or quality of life (QoL). Generic QoL measures lack sensitivity for some diagnoses and many not be responsive in eating disorder patients. This article describes the development and validation of a condition-specific QoL measure for adolescents and adults with eating disorders--the Eating Disorders Quality of Life Scale (EDQLS). METHODS: Multi-source and multi-stage methods were used to develop the EDQLS, with participation of patients with EDs, their family members and ED treatment providers. Sources for domain and item development included 39 articles, 12 patient and 10 treatment provider interviews, and 31 first person narratives from the internet. Four stages of validation and pre-testing involving 17 patients, 10 family members and 18 providers reduced 233 items to 40 items in 12 domains. These items were pilot tested in 41 ED patients. RESULTS: The final instrument was then validated in a 12 site sample of 171 individuals aged 14-60 with EDs. All items showed good dispersion. The total raw mean score was 110 out of 200 (SD 27.6) with higher scores indicating better QoL. Internal consistency was excellent (Cronbach's alpha = .96) and subscale internal consistency ranged from alpha .36 to .79 providing evidence for a strong overall construct and some multi-dimensionality. Validity was supported by significant differences in mean EDQLS according to severity levels on the EDI-2 (F = 95.3, p <.001) and the BSI (F = 86.9, p <.001). EDQLS scores were positively associated with time in treatment (F = 4.65, p = .01) suggesting responsiveness. A strong positive association was also found between EDQLS scores and stage of change (F = 15.1 p <.001). Pearson's correlations between the EDQLS and criterion instrument scores were .71 for the SF-12 mental subscale, .61 for the QoLI and .78 for the 16D, supporting construct validity. Exploratory principal components and item response theory analyses identified only a few poor fitting items. CONCLUSION: The EDQLS has promising psychometric characteristics and may be useful for evaluating ED treatment effectiveness.