Exploring the experience of young people receiving treatment for an eating disorder: family therapy for anorexia nervosa and multi-family therapy in an inpatient setting

Abstract

Abstract Background Research indicates that family therapy for anorexia nervosa (FT-AN) and multi-family therapy (MFT) are effective treatments for adolescents experiencing anorexia nervosa (AN). However, less is known about young people’s experiences of these two treatments, as there is limited qualitative research, and to date no qualitative research within an inpatient setting. It is argued that the lack of such insight limits the development of services for young people experiencing AN. Method Five young people were recruited to the study from a specialist inpatient unit who were receiving treatment on the AN pathway which included both FT-AN and MFT. Semi structured interviews were undertaken and analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Results Four superordinate themes and ten subthemes were developed from the data. The four superordinate themes were: ‘Process of Understanding’, ‘Reviving Connection’, ‘Emerging from the Eating Disorder and ‘Development of I’. Conclusions There appeared to be two overarching concepts: the role of the individual and the role of others, that helpfully framed the results. The superordinate themes: ‘Emerging from the Eating Disorder’ and ‘Development of I’ focused on the development of the individual. Conversely, the superordinate themes: ‘The Process of Understanding’ and ‘Reviving Connection’ were centred on the relationships existing within the family system. The results could help inform future service developments regarding inpatient provision and service design. Plain English Summary The most widely used and recognised treatment for anorexia nervosa in young people is family therapy for anorexia nervosa (FT-AN). An alternative treatment is multi-family therapy (MFT). Both treatments are deemed to be effective and usually happen in the community. However, some hospitals provide these treatments while the young people are in-patients. There is no research exploring young people’s experiences of these two treatments while in an in-patient unit. Young people who had received both FT-AN and MFT in an inpatient setting were asked to share their experiences of these two treatments. Their stories were analysed by a researcher. The analysis identified four themes: ‘Process of Understanding’, ‘Reviving Connection’, ‘Emerging from the Eating Disorder and ‘Development of I’. The results highlighted that the young people appeared to place more value on the role of others and perhaps others changing enabled them to change. The research highlighted the benefit in others’ understanding and therefore how improving societal understanding more broadly would be helpful. The young people reflected that both they and their parents benefited from FT-AN and MFT in an in-patient setting and it is proposed that this could help inform future service developments regarding inpatient provision.

Keywords

• Adolescent
• Anorexia nervosa
• Qualitative research
• Family therapy for anorexia nervosa
• Multi family therapy