A University of Chicago Medical Center team has found that adolescents who seek treatment for bulimia significantly increase their chances for recovery if their parents are involved in the process. The randomized study involved 80 adolescents, half of which were assigned family-based treatment while the other half were assigned standard treatment.

"In the September issue of Archives of General Psychiatry [the] team... shows that almost 40 percent of participants in family-based treatment had stopped binging and purging compared to only 18 percent of those who received... the standard therapy. Six-months after treatment, almost 30 percent of participants who received family-based treatment were still abstinent compared to only 10 percent of participants who received supportive psychotherapy..."

The family-based therapy included clinic sessions with the patient and family members, while parents received instructions on to follow-up and encourage their children at home. The study shows that parents are uniquely positioned to help their children recovery from this potentially deadly eating disorder.

Copper Canyon Academy, a private girls residential treatment school, offers family seminars and workshops. Visit CopperCanyonAcademy.com for more information.

Labels: family, support, therapy