Parents’ Experiences of Family Therapy for Adolescent Anorexia Nervosa

ABSTRACT

This study examined parents’ experiences of family-based interventions for the treatment of adolescents with anorexia nervosa (AN). Nine parents whose child’s weight had reached the healthy weight range post-treatment were interviewed about their experiences of parenting a child with AN in either manualised family-based therapy (FBT) (n = 6) or non-manualised family systematic interventions (n = 3). The interviews were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Findings draw attention to the impact of AN on the whole family, the gatekeeping role of health professionals in accessing support and treatment, the value of externalisation, the prime importance of the therapeutic alliance between parents and clinicians, and the importance of tailoring treatment to the unique circumstances, values, and culture of each family.

IMPLICATIONS

• Practitioners should be alert to the feelings of shock, guilt, and responsibility felt by parents of a child with anorexia nervosa and recognise the challenges faced by parents in accessing treatment and responding to their child’s behaviour, alongside the demands of family, work, and other social roles.

• The quality of the parent–practitioner therapeutic relationship influences parental perceptions of support and of the effectiveness of treatment. Regardless of the treatment model, parents respond well to therapists who express empathy, pay attention to building trust, respect, and activate the family’s unique circumstances and values, offer support, explain the nature and purpose of the treatment, and provide feedback.

• From the parent perspective, practitioners are more effective if they clarify parents’ value and belief systems and use these to engage parents with the treatment process.

本文研究了针对青少年神经性厌食症（AN）治疗，父母在家庭环境中的干预经验。作者访谈了九位有AN病儿的家长，其中六位 采用了手工家庭疗法，三位采用非手工的家庭系统干预。作者对访谈进行了阐释现象学的分析。研究结果指出，需要关注：AN对整个家庭的影响；在获得支持和治疗方面健康专业人士的守门角色；外部化的价值；家长和临床医生结成治疗联盟的至关重要性；跟据每个家庭具体情况、价值观及文化调整治疗方法的重要性。

KEYWORDS:

• Anorexia Nervosa
• Family-based Therapy
• Manualised FBT

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the study participants for giving freely of their time and allowing us to gain insight into their personal lives.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.