Therapeutic groups for parents of patients with anorexia nervosa: A systematic review of subjective experiences and state of current practices in France

Anorexia nervosa is a severe and potentially life-threatening disorder. However, although the role of parents in treatment is now clearly recognized and therapeutic groups for parents have been used for years, there are but few existent studies concerning their organisation and effectiveness. The objectives of this study were, on the one hand, to evaluate the parents’ and therapists’ subjective experience of these groups through a systematic review of the literature, and on the other hand, to assess the state of current practices in France using an online questionnaire. The Medline and Web of Science databases were systematically searched. French practices were explored through a questionnaire sent by e-mail to French units treating patients suffering from anorexia nervosa. Eleven studies were identified, ten of which used only subjective assessment without a control group. They all converged toward the same conclusion: therapeutic groups are perceived, by parents and therapists, as an interesting option in the treatment of anorexia nervosa. The group process allows parents to gain insight into their family dynamics. Therefore, they were able to replicate at home what they have learned during the sessions. The evaluation of French practices showed that one third of the units used a therapeutic group. The frequency and duration of the sessions were relatively homogenous: 75.7% were held once a month or every two months and the average duration was 90minutes. Other characteristics of the groups were more heterogeneous. While the level of evidence supporting the use of therapeutic groups for parents of patients with anorexia nervosa is low, the perceived effectiveness of these groups is high, both among parents and therapists, and they are commonly used in France. Further research is needed to evaluate their effectiveness. L’anorexie mentale est un trouble sévère et potentiellement létal. Pourtant, bien que le rôle des parents dans le traitement soit aujourd’hui clairement reconnu et que les groupes thérapeutiques pour parents soient utilisés depuis des années, il n’existe que peu de données concernant leur organisation et leur efficacité. Les objectifs de cette étude étaient, d’une part, d’évaluer l’expérience subjective de ces groupes par les parents et les thérapeutes à travers une revue systématique de la littérature, et, d’autre part, de faire le point sur l’état des pratiques actuelles en France à l’aide d’un questionnaire en ligne. Les bases de données