Abstract
BackgroundThis study investigated patient experience in a Family Admissions Program (FAP) – a pilot treatment program for adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa at the Children’s Hospital, Westmead. Based on Maudsley Family Based Treatment (FBT), the FAP involves an adolescent and his/her family undergoing a two-week family-based hospital admission at the outset of treatment. The program aims to increase intensity and support to a level needed by some families struggling to engage with or access FBT.MethodNarrative Inquiry and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis were used as a dual methodological approach to explore the prospective expectations and retrospective experiences of participants partaking in the program.ResultsResults indicated that in cases where the family unit has been particularly fractured as a result of the eating disorder, the FAP offers an opportunity for relational strengthening and reunification. Combined with the program’s intensive support and proximity to hospital services, this serves to provide struggling families with enhanced skills and a stronger foundation for outpatient FBT.ConclusionsFor families deemed at risk of unsuccessful outcomes with FBT, the FAP can be considered as an appropriate treatment adjunct to place alongside or before the commencement of FBT.
Highlights
This study investigated patient experience in a Family Admissions Program (FAP) – a pilot treatment program for adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa at the Children’s Hospital, Westmead
Results indicated that in cases where the family unit has been fractured as a result of the eating disorder, the FAP offers an opportunity for relational strengthening and reunification
For families deemed at risk of unsuccessful outcomes with Family Based Treatment (FBT), the FAP can be considered as an appropriate treatment adjunct to place alongside or before the commencement of FBT
Summary
This study investigated patient experience in a Family Admissions Program (FAP) – a pilot treatment program for adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa at the Children’s Hospital, Westmead. Studies investigating the optimal length and frequency of FBT sessions [2, 12, 13] have highlighted an association between more severe psychiatric psychopathology (such as higher rates of eating disorder symptomatology, as well as comorbidity) and worse treatment outcomes. In these cases, longer and more intensive administrations of FBT were required, with the researchers suggesting that more intractable presentations of AN are more challenging for parents to contain because behavioural and psychological change takes longer to be achieved
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