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. 2023 Jul;17(7):743-746.
doi: 10.1111/eip.13395. Epub 2023 Jan 11.

Paediatric eating disorders: Exploring virtual family therapy during a global pandemic

Jessica Pereira  1 , Ahmed Boachie  1   2 , Caitlin Shipley  1 , Martha McLeod  1 , Stephen Garfinkel  1 , Janet Dowdall  1
Affiliations

Paediatric eating disorders: Exploring virtual family therapy during a global pandemic

Jessica Pereira et al. Early Interv Psychiatry. 2023 Jul.

Abstract

Aim: Explore treatment response and effectiveness of virtual treatment for a paediatric eating disorder sample.

Methods: Twenty patients and their families who received either virtual or in-person family therapy were included in the study. Family therapy was informed by family-based treatment (FBT) principles. Patients' weight restoration at 1, 3, and 6 months after starting treatment was examined. Independent sample t tests assessed group differences and a Fisher exact test was used to evaluate the association between treatment group and weight restoration.

Results: Weight restoration did not significantly differ between treatment groups (virtual vs. in-person) at any time point and there was no association between group and remission weight at 6 months.

Conclusions: Study results are considered exploratory. Future research addressing study limitations is needed. Results suggest that paediatric eating disorder patients may benefit from family therapy delivered via a virtual platform.

Keywords: eating disorders; family therapy; paediatrics; telemedicine.

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