Project HOME: Adolescent Arm

STUDY BASICS

Do you have a child ages 12-17 with a restrictive-type eating disorder? Do they currently live at home? You and your child may be eligible for a research study to learn better how eating disorder treatments and adaptations work when given in the home setting. Compensation is provided.

STUDY PURPOSE

We are interested in understanding how effective and feasible two types of in-home therapies are for adolescents with restrictive-type eating disorders: Family-Based Treatment (FBT, a multi-phase standard approach to parental refeeding of a child with an eating disorder) and integrative family therapy (IFT, which combines family and individual therapy, and focuses more on thoughts and feelings). In particular, we want to examine outcomes of these two types of treatment when given in the home setting. 

COULD THIS STUDY BE RIGHT FOR YOUR CHILD?

Eligible families:

• Have a child 12-17 with a restrictive-type eating disorder currently living at home 
• Have at least 1 parent/caregiver willing to engage in treatment 
• Are willing to complete surveys and interviews about their treatment experience 
• Live in Allegheny County

WHAT PARTICIPANTS CAN EXPECT

Your family will be randomized to complete either in-home FBT or in-home IFT. You and your child will be asked to complete assessments at 5 time points: pre-treatment, and then 6, 12, 24 and 32 weeks after enrollment. These assessments will include a battery of questionnaires for both you and your child. Your child will also be asked to complete an interview on their eating and general psychological functioning, as well as give height/weight measurements. A small subset of families will also be asked to complete an additional post-treatment interview.