Service evaluation of multi-family therapy for anorexia groups between 2013–2021 in a specialist child and adolescent eating disorders service
Abstract
The aims of the service evaluation were to examine the effectiveness of multi-family therapy for anorexia nervosa (MFT-AN) on family relationships, as well as to understand families’ experiences of MFT in a specialist child and adolescent eating disorders service between 2013–2021.
Mixed-methods were used (t-tests and reflexive thematic analysis).
Delivery was in-person in 2013–2019, and moved online from 2020 due to COVID-19.
Responses from a total of 57 families and 190 people were analysed.
MFT improved family functioning from pre-to post MFT as measured by the Systemic Clinical Observation in Routine Evaluation (SCORE-15).
Sub-group analysis by family roles showed that at four-month follow-up, the effects were no longer significant among parents.
On the contrary, preliminary analysis showed that although young people did not report any improvement at post-intervention, family functioning was reported to increase at follow-up.
Four themes were constructed: being together as a family and as a group; individuality: everyone’s recovery is different; MFT as an emotion ‘hotpot’, and online versus virtual groups: not a one-size-fits-all.
More robust follow-up data are needed to ascertain the effects of online MFT-AN.
Citations
Yim SH, White S. Service evaluation of multi-family therapy for anorexia groups between 2013–2021 in a specialist child and adolescent eating disorders service. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry. 2023;0(0).
Page last reviewed: 12 June, 2025
Metadata
Author(s): White, Sam
Collection: 123456789/8
Subject(s): Anorexia Nervosa, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), Eating Disorders
Format(s): Article
Date issued: 2023-07
ID: 1291