Family-Based Therapy (FBT) in a Prepubertal Male with Anorexia Nervosa: A Case Report

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2026-04-17

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Claris Mateo, L., & Serrano Troncoso, E. (2026). Family-Based Therapy (FBT) in a Prepubertal Male with Anorexia Nervosa: A Case Report. Revista De Psiquiatría Infanto-Juvenil, 43(1). https://doi.org/10.31766/revpsij.v43n1a3

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Vol. 43 No. 1 (2026): January-March

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Case reports

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Copyright (c) 2026 Revista de Psiquiatría Infanto-Juvenil

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

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DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31766/revpsij.v43n1a3

Keywords:

prepubertal anorexia nervosa, family-based therapy, eating disorder

Abstract

Introduction: The onset of Anorexia Nervosa (AN) is occurring at increasingly earlier ages, with a greater number of cases of AN being reported in the prepubertal population. Although evidence regarding therapeutic recommendations for its evaluation and treatment is limited, the involvement of caregivers in the recovery process appears to be essential. Case description: In this case study, we present the case of a male preadolescent with AN characterised by an intense fear of weight gain and compensatory behaviours involving physical exercise and food restriction. During the Family-Based Therapy (FBT), the patient experienced a significant improvement in their clinical manifestations, including weight recovery, normalised eating habits and the remission of dysfunctional behaviours and associated comorbidities. The results remained stable at the one-year follow-up. Conclusions: This case report demonstrates the advantages of implementing a family-based therapeutic programme, emphasising the role of motivation in disorder recovery, adherence to dietary guidelines to ensure weight recovery and the progressive decentralisation of food, while supporting the child in the process of creating their own identity in this developmental stage.

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