Investigation of Multi-Family Therapy for Anorexia Nervosa

The proposed project is an intensive multi family therapy (MFT) intervention involving patients with anorexia nervosa and their families. MFT interventions are informed from the principles of the family based treatment (FBT)/family therapy for Anorexia Nervosa (FT-AN) models. This program will offer families in vivo/virtual support while connecting with other families to increase knowledge of eating disorders and develop skills related to successfully supporting their adolescent during difficult times, including meal support and affect regulation. Our objective is to explore the influence of the MFT intervention on the primary outcome measures in eating disorder treatment, including weight, expressed emotion and eating disorder symptomatology.

Inclusion Criteria: * English speaking * living at home with at least one parent/guardian * diagnosis of restricting eating disorder * 11-18 years of age * Medically stable per medical clearance form Exclusion Criteria: * Active psychosis (parent or child) * Current dependence on drug or alcohol (parent or child) * Past history/current abuse (sexual/physical), neglect