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When Is the Right Time to End Family Therapy for Anorexia Nervosa (FT‐AN)?: A Qualitative Study of Young People's Experiences.

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Title: When Is the Right Time to End Family Therapy for Anorexia Nervosa (FT‐AN)?: A Qualitative Study of Young People's Experiences.
Authors: de la Poer Beresford, Kate (AUTHOR), Cawson, Alys (AUTHOR), Baudinet, Julian (AUTHOR), Eisler, Ivan (AUTHOR), Konstantellou, Anna (AUTHOR), Simic, Mima (AUTHOR), Schmidt, Ulrike (AUTHOR)
Source: European Eating Disorders Review. Jan2026, Vol. 34 Issue 1, p296-306. 11p.
Subjects: Anorexia nervosa treatment, Family psychotherapy, Qualitative research, Research funding, Interviewing, Treatment duration, Discharge planning, Classification of mental disorders, Uncertainty, Confidence, Decision making, Descriptive statistics, Experience, Sound recordings, Thematic analysis, Convalescence, Research methodology, Social support, Patients' attitudes, Adolescence
Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
Abstract: Objective: Family therapy for anorexia nervosa (FT‐AN) is the first‐line recommended treatment for young people with anorexia nervosa. There is variability in treatment length across studies and evidence suggests treatment length and outcome are not necessarily linearly related. This makes it difficult to identify the optimum length of treatment in clinical practice. This study aimed to explore young people's perspectives on the timing of discharge and how this relates to recovery. Method: Twenty three young people (age 12–18) diagnosed with anorexia (or atypical anorexia) nervosa participated. All had completed FT‐AN with or without adjunctive multi‐family therapy. Semi‐structured individual qualitative interviews were conducted. Recordings were transcribed verbatim and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Four inter‐connected themes were generated; (1) who decides?, (2) knowing what's coming, (3) things that need to be in place, (4) discharge is a necessary step towards recovery. Discussion: Young people said that remaining in treatment for longer than necessary may impede recovery. Establishing clear expectations about discharge and recovery, helping young people to commit to ongoing behaviour change, and building their support network were all described as important components in helping them to feel confident about discharge and to take ownership of continuing the recovery journey post‐discharge. Key Points: Findings suggest ending family therapy for anorexia nervosa (FT‐AN) is not about attending a specific number of sessions or reaching a certain weight; rather, it is about supporting young people and their families to feel confident in their ability to manage without treatment.Ongoing commitment to change post‐discharge is paramount, and encouraging young people and families to take 'safe risks' seems to be an important part of ending and taking ownership of recovery.Current data suggests holding young people in treatment longer than necessary may inadvertently signal that change is too risky and that the multi‐disciplinary team do not think they are able to cope without ongoing support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
Description
Abstract:Objective: Family therapy for anorexia nervosa (FT‐AN) is the first‐line recommended treatment for young people with anorexia nervosa. There is variability in treatment length across studies and evidence suggests treatment length and outcome are not necessarily linearly related. This makes it difficult to identify the optimum length of treatment in clinical practice. This study aimed to explore young people's perspectives on the timing of discharge and how this relates to recovery. Method: Twenty three young people (age 12–18) diagnosed with anorexia (or atypical anorexia) nervosa participated. All had completed FT‐AN with or without adjunctive multi‐family therapy. Semi‐structured individual qualitative interviews were conducted. Recordings were transcribed verbatim and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Four inter‐connected themes were generated; (1) who decides?, (2) knowing what's coming, (3) things that need to be in place, (4) discharge is a necessary step towards recovery. Discussion: Young people said that remaining in treatment for longer than necessary may impede recovery. Establishing clear expectations about discharge and recovery, helping young people to commit to ongoing behaviour change, and building their support network were all described as important components in helping them to feel confident about discharge and to take ownership of continuing the recovery journey post‐discharge. Key Points: Findings suggest ending family therapy for anorexia nervosa (FT‐AN) is not about attending a specific number of sessions or reaching a certain weight; rather, it is about supporting young people and their families to feel confident in their ability to manage without treatment.Ongoing commitment to change post‐discharge is paramount, and encouraging young people and families to take 'safe risks' seems to be an important part of ending and taking ownership of recovery.Current data suggests holding young people in treatment longer than necessary may inadvertently signal that change is too risky and that the multi‐disciplinary team do not think they are able to cope without ongoing support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:10724133
DOI:10.1002/erv.70025