Research Article

Internet-Based Chat Support Groups for Parents in Family-Based Treatment for Adolescent Eating Disorders: A Pilot Study†

  1. Roslyn B. Binford Hopf1,2,*,
  2. Daniel Le Grange1,
  3. Markus Moessner2,
  4. Stephanie Bauer2

Article first published online: 5 SEP 2012

DOI: 10.1002/erv.2196

Issue

European Eating Disorders Review

European Eating Disorders Review

Volume 21, Issue 3, pages 215–223, May 2013

Additional Information

How to Cite

Binford Hopf, R. B., Grange, D. L., Moessner, M. and Bauer, S. (2013), Internet-Based Chat Support Groups for Parents in Family-Based Treatment for Adolescent Eating Disorders: A Pilot Study. Eur. Eat. Disorders Rev., 21: 215–223. doi: 10.1002/erv.2196

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA

  2. 2

    Center for Psychotherapy Research, University Hospital Heidelberg, Germany

* Correspondence: Dr. Roslyn Binford Hopf, PhD, The University of Chicago, 5841 South Maryland Avenue, MC 3077, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
Email: roslyn.hopf@t-online.de

  1. †

    Portions of this article were presented as a paper at the International Conference on Eating Disorders, 10–12 June 2010, Salzburg, Austria.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 5 APR 2013
  2. Article first published online: 5 SEP 2012
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 28 JUL 2012
  4. Manuscript Revised: 13 JUL 2012
  5. Manuscript Received: 1 MAR 2012

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Keywords:

  • eating disorders;
  • family-based treatment;
  • online chat;
  • parents;
  • support groups

Abstract

Objective

This study aims to examine the feasibility and acceptability of an Internet-based chat support group for parents implementing family-based treatment (FBT).

Method

Participants (N = 13) were parents of adolescents with eating disorder who participated in 15 weekly online therapist-guided chat sessions. Sessions focused on encouraging and supporting parental efforts to help their child overcome an eating disorder.

Results

Chat programme satisfaction ratings were high (91.7%). Participants reported looking forward to chat sessions and would recommend the chat to others. The vast majority reported that the chat helped them cope with their child's eating disorder and to implement FBT. Participants reported feeling that they could talk openly and honestly in sessions and had a sense of belonging to the group. Relatively few technical problems were reported, and the chat was rated as accessible, convenient and easy to use.

Discussion

Findings provide preliminary support for the utility of an online parent chat as an adjunct to FBT. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.

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