Explain FBT and medical risk to parents of a teen with AN — CASC communication station

Open. Name role and time; ask priorities (guilt, medication, hospital fear). [4]

Explain AN. “Anorexia is a serious illness where the brain’s fear of weight gain and food rules take over, so the body is starved. It is not a lifestyle choice and not simply bad parenting.” Externalise: “We treat the anorexia as the problem, not your daughter as the problem.” [4][5]

Medical risk. Low heart rate, dizziness on standing, fainting, chest pain, sudden weakness, or inability to eat/drink safely means urgent hospital assessment. Weight alone can mislead. We monitor heart rate, bloods and ECG because the heart and salts can be dangerous during starvation and when restarting food.[2]

FBT. Best-evidenced family approach for teens: in the first phase you take charge of meals and refeeding with our coaching, reduce AN negotiations, and restore nutrition. Later phases return control and focus on teenage life again. Research comparing FBT with individual therapy supports better recovery rates with this approach for many adolescents.[1][5]

Medication. Antidepressants like fluoxetine can help some other eating problems (for example bulimia) and mood disorders, but trials show fluoxetine does not prevent relapse in anorexia after weight is restored and is not the main treatment to make weight come back. Food plus family treatment are the foundations.[3][4]

Consent. We prefer voluntary care. If she becomes so unwell she cannot weigh the risks of refusing treatment, parents and doctors may need to use legal powers in this state/country to keep her safe — we will explain that clearly if it becomes relevant.[4]

Close. Summarise, teach-back, crisis numbers, next FBT appointment, written red-flag card. [2][4]