The eating disorder inventory as an instrument to explore change in adolescents in family therapy for anorexia nervosa

Objective: to explore the changes in the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI, Ga rner et al., 1983; Garner and Olsmtead, 1984) and its sub-scales in the cou rse of two forms of family therapy for adolescent anorexia nervosa. Method: 40 patients (39 female, one male) and their families were randomly assigned to one of two forms of family therapy given over 12 months. (a) A conjoint family therapy (CFT) in which the adolescent was seen exclusively with parents and siblings. This is a well established form of treatment in child and adolescent mental health teams; (b) A control treatment, which is separated family therapy (SFT). In this, the parents were seen as a couple for parent guidance and the patient was seen for supportive counselling. T he EDI was applied at baseline, 3 months, 6 months and at the end of treatm ent. Results: there were end of treatment between treatment group differences in the global EDI score and in, the two sub-scales: Ineffectiveness and Inter personal Distrust. Discussion: the EDI was shown to be useful in measuring change in therapy a nd in differentiating two forms of intervention. CFT seems to be associated with a diminution in a sense of Ineffectiveness and Interpersonal Distrust whereas SFT is associated with no change in these sub-scales. Copyright (C ) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.