A “Joint Family Consultation” Approach to the Initial Treatment of Early Onset Anorexia Nervosa in a French Pediatric Hospital

Abstract
Over the past 15 years, family therapy has been acknowledged as one of the most effective treatments of child and adolescent anorexia nervosa, particularly of recent onset. As a result of this growing awareness, French professionals specialized in early onset eating disorders have increasingly prescribed or included family therapy in the treatment plan. Yet the practice of family therapy in this country continues to be marked by a “cumulative” rather than integrated approach and by family models which emphasize maladaptive rather than adaptive family patterns, thus increasing the risks that this therapeutic modality be marginalized and that family and team develop adversarial positions. Over the last 7 to 8 years, we have developed a “joint family consultation” approach to the initial treatment of young anorexics within the setting of a large Parisian pediatric hospital. Our experience indicates that this model not only facilitates the “joining” of all therapeutic resources (including the family)...

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