Taking care of the body to cure the mind: family-based therapies as attachment-based programs for adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa

TL;DR

This paper proposes combining family-based therapy with attachment-focused parenting to treat adolescents with anorexia nervosa, aiming to improve both physical and emotional recovery.

Contribution

The novel contribution is integrating attachment-based strategies into family-based treatment for anorexia nervosa.

Findings

Family-Based Treatment can be enhanced with attachment-informed parenting to improve outcomes for adolescents with anorexia nervosa.

Attachment-based strategies like video feedback and emotional regulation support parental caregiving and adolescent recovery.

The integration of these approaches offers a comprehensive model for developmental restoration in anorexia nervosa.

Abstract

Anorexia Nervosa (AN) is a severe psychiatric disorder that typically emerges in adolescence and presents a high risk of medical complications and mortality. Early, family-centered interventions are critical in reducing both physical and psychological impairments associated with the illness. This article explores the clinical integration of Family-Based Treatment (FBT) with attachment-informed parenting interventions, particularly Circle of Security—Parenting (CoS-P). We argue that FBT can be conceptualized not only as a behavioral protocol for weight restoration but also as a structured framework for enhancing parental caregiving functions and emotional attunement. Drawing on developmental psychopathology and interpersonal motivational systems theory, we examine how FBT’s emphasis on externalization, parental empowerment, and family meals can be enriched through attachment-based strategies such as video feedback, emotional regulation, and reflective parenting. This integration offers a comprehensive treatment model aimed at restoring the adolescent’s developmental trajectory by supporting both embodied recovery and psychological growth within the family system.