When eating disorder attitudes and cognitions persist after weight restoration: An exploratory examination of non‐cognitive responders to family‐based treatment for adolescent anorexia nervosa

OBJECTIVE: Family-based treatment (FBT) is a well-established intervention for adolescent anorexia nervosa (AN). Although FBT is efficacious in promoting weight gain and improvements in psychological symptoms, for some adolescents, cognitive/attitudinal recovery lags behind weight gain. This study conducted an exploratory post hoc analysis of outcomes of adolescents who achieved weight gain by the end of FBT but continued to experience elevated psychological symptoms post-treatment. METHODS: [SD] = 14.66 [1.73]). RESULTS: By 12 months post-treatment, there were no differences in weight between NCRs and FRs. However, NCRs had a slower trajectory of weight gain than FRs and continued to have elevated levels of psychological symptoms throughout the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: A subset of adolescents appear to continue to experience clinically significant levels of eating pathology up to 12 months after FBT even when weight restoration is achieved.