Systemic relational therapy for eating disorders: analysis of family characteristics by means of the SCORE-15

The study confirms that, at the outset of therapy, families with adolescents diagnosed with eating disorders (EDs), perceive family functioning as more problematic, particularly from the adolescents' perspective. As we hypothesized, Group A reported higher and more heterogeneous SCORE-15 scores among family members, especially between fathers and adolescents. Nevertheless, both groups benefited from the therapeutic process, showing significant improvements in the quality of relationships and in the management of family difficulties. These results underscore the relevance of a systemic-relational approach in cases of eating disorders and the importance of actively involving the entire family system, paying particular attention to the adolescent's relational experience. The SCORE-15 is confirmed to be a valid and sensitive tool for monitoring change and guiding clinical intervention in family therapy.