Multi‐Family Day Treatment for Adolescents With Anorexia Nervosa: Clinical Outcomes and Treatment Duration as a Stand‐Alone or Adjunctive Intervention

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the effects of multi-family therapy (MFT-AN); delivered as 10 treatment days over one year; on weight, eating disorder behaviours and emotional problems in adolescents with anorexia nervosa. The added benefit of a 1-year duration compared to 6 months was evaluated. Finally, the outcomes between stand-alone MFT-AN and MFT-AN combined with inpatient treatment were compared. METHOD: Self-reported data from 230 adolescents (aged 9-18 years) and their families were collected at baseline (T0), 6 months (T6), and 12 months (T12). Percentage median BMI was calculated at all time points. Data were analysed using (generalised) linear mixed models. RESULTS: Significant improvements were observed in percentage median BMI, anorectic symptoms and parent-reported emotional problems, from T0 to T6 and T12 (p < 0.001) and from T6 to T12 (p = 0.002-p = 0.014). Ineffectiveness, body dissatisfaction, interoceptive awareness and drive for thinness (p < 0.001), fear of adulthood (p = 0.003) and perfectionism (p = 0.04) showed a significant improvement from T0 to T6 and T12, and from T6 to T12 (p = 0.008-p = 0.021). Interpersonal distrust showed only a significant improvement between T6 and T12 (p = 0.004). Interaction effects between time and inpatient treatment were significant only for percentage median BMI (p = 0.006) and interoceptive awareness (p = 0.008). Treatment satisfaction was high. CONCLUSIONS: MFT-AN is an effective treatment for adolescents with anorexia nervosa. Continued improvement supports the added value of a 1-year duration. MFT-AN can be implemented both as a stand-alone and adjunctive intervention.