Role of therapeutic alliance in family therapy for adolescent anorexia nervosa

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Objective: The purpose of this study is to examine the role of therapeutic alliance in predicting treatment dropout, response and outcome in a cohort of adolescents with anorexia nervosa (AN) and their families who were treated using a manualized form of family‐based therapy (FBT). Method: Independent assessors scored early and late therapeutic alliances for patients and parents using the Working Alliance Inventory‐Observer (WAIo). Outcomes were weights and scores on the subscales of the Eating Disorder Examination at the end of 12 months of FBT. Results: Therapeutic alliance throughout treatment was strong both for adolescents and for their parents. A strong early alliance with adolescents was associated with early treatment response in terms of weight gain. A strong early alliance with parents prevented dropout, whereas a strong late parental alliance predicted their child's total weight gain at the end of treatment. Conclusion: Therapeutic alliance in both patients and parents treated with FBT is generally strong and likely contributes to treatment retention and treatment outcome. © 2006 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2006; 39:677–684