A surreal illustration of families supporting each other in anorexia recovery.

Multifamily Therapy: A Promising Boost for Anorexia Treatment in Teens

Theo Raines in Health & Wellness August 2025 • 4 min read.

"New research suggests that multifamily therapy, when added to single-family therapy, can significantly improve outcomes for adolescents battling anorexia nervosa."

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a serious and complex eating disorder, particularly affecting adolescents. Family therapy for anorexia nervosa (FT-AN) has emerged as a leading treatment approach, but not all adolescents respond positively. This has spurred research into supplementary therapies to enhance the effectiveness of FT-AN.

Multifamily therapy for anorexia nervosa (MFT-AN) is one such promising approach. In MFT-AN, several families participate in day treatment sessions together, creating a supportive and collaborative environment. While open trials have indicated the potential of MFT-AN, a rigorous randomized controlled trial was needed to confirm its benefits.

A recent study published in BMC Psychiatry has provided valuable insights into the efficacy of MFT-AN. This randomized trial compared the outcomes of adolescents receiving MFT-AN in addition to single-family therapy with those receiving single-family therapy alone. The results offer compelling evidence for the potential of MFT to improve outcomes for adolescents with AN.

How Multifamily Therapy Enhances Anorexia Treatment

A surreal illustration of families supporting each other in anorexia recovery.

The study, conducted across six specialist eating disorder services in the UK, involved adolescents aged 13-20 diagnosed with AN or other specified eating disorders. Participants were required to be medically stable and have a body mass index (BMI) above a certain threshold. The trial randomly assigned participants to either the FT-AN arm or the MFT-AN arm.

The FT-AN group received up to 12 months of outpatient therapy consisting of single-family sessions. The MFT-AN group, on the other hand, attended up to six weeks of single-family sessions before participating in a 4-day MFT program. Following the program, they attended up to six 1-day MFT sessions with intermittent single-family sessions. The MFT program incorporated a variety of group, family, psychoeducational, and creative techniques aimed at reducing isolation and maximizing capabilities within the FT-AN framework.

Here's what the study revealed:

Improved Outcomes: Adolescents in the MFT group showed significantly higher rates of good or intermediate outcomes at the end of treatment compared to those in the FT-AN group (76% vs 58%).
Increased BMI: The MFT group also exhibited a higher percentage of median BMI at follow-up.
High Satisfaction: Despite the greater demands of MFT, families reported high levels of acceptability and satisfaction with the treatment.

While the study's findings are promising, it's important to consider certain limitations. The primary outcome had a lower threshold compared to other FT-AN trials, potentially impacting comparisons between studies. Additionally, there was no significant difference in the number of single FT-AN sessions received between groups, suggesting that the benefits of MFT may be attributed to the additional therapeutic contact provided by the MFT sessions.

The Future of Anorexia Treatment: Integrating Multifamily Therapy

The study's findings suggest that MFT holds considerable promise as an adjunct to single-family therapy for adolescents with anorexia nervosa. However, further research is needed to identify the active components of MFT that contribute to improved outcomes. Future studies should focus on testing the effectiveness of individual and combined components to inform well-informed components analysis. This will help determine whether complex treatments like MFT can be simplified and made less resource-intensive, ultimately benefiting more adolescents and families affected by anorexia nervosa.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1136/eb-2017-102732, Alternate LINK

Title: Multifamily Therapy May Add To The Effectiveness Of Single-Family Therapy For Adolescents With Anorexia Nervosa

Subject: Psychiatry and Mental health

Journal: Evidence Based Mental Health

Publisher: BMJ

Authors: Elizabeth K Hughes

Published: 2017-08-29

Everything You Need To Know

What is Anorexia Nervosa and why is it important to understand in the context of treatment?

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a serious eating disorder, particularly affecting adolescents. It is characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight, a distorted body image, and severe restriction of food intake, which can lead to significant health complications. Understanding the complexities of AN is essential for developing effective treatment strategies, and recognizing the need for specialized interventions like Family therapy for anorexia nervosa (FT-AN) and Multifamily therapy for anorexia nervosa (MFT-AN).

What is Family therapy for anorexia nervosa (FT-AN) and why is it a leading treatment?

Family therapy for anorexia nervosa (FT-AN) is a treatment approach where therapists work with the adolescent and their family to address the eating disorder. It focuses on improving communication, resolving family conflicts, and supporting the adolescent's recovery. While FT-AN is a leading treatment, not all adolescents respond positively, highlighting the need for supplementary therapies like Multifamily therapy for anorexia nervosa (MFT-AN).

What is Multifamily therapy for anorexia nervosa (MFT-AN) and how does it work?

Multifamily therapy for anorexia nervosa (MFT-AN) involves multiple families participating in day treatment sessions together, creating a supportive and collaborative environment. In the context of this study, adolescents receiving MFT-AN attended single-family sessions, followed by a 4-day MFT program, and then additional MFT sessions. This approach aims to reduce isolation, encourage shared experiences, and improve outcomes compared to single-family therapy alone, as evidenced by improved recovery rates and increased Body Mass Index (BMI).

How did the study demonstrate the effectiveness of Multifamily therapy for anorexia nervosa (MFT-AN)?

The study found that adolescents receiving Multifamily therapy for anorexia nervosa (MFT-AN) in addition to Family therapy for anorexia nervosa (FT-AN) showed significantly higher rates of good or intermediate outcomes and increased Body Mass Index (BMI) at the end of treatment compared to those receiving FT-AN alone. This suggests that MFT-AN can be a valuable addition to traditional treatment, offering a supportive environment that enhances the effectiveness of FT-AN.

What are the next steps for research on Multifamily therapy for anorexia nervosa (MFT-AN)?

The findings suggest that Multifamily therapy for anorexia nervosa (MFT-AN) holds considerable promise, but further research is needed to identify its active components. Future studies should analyze the effectiveness of individual and combined components to inform well-informed components analysis. This will help determine whether complex treatments like MFT-AN can be simplified and made less resource-intensive, ultimately benefiting more adolescents and families affected by anorexia nervosa. This involves making MFT-AN more accessible and effective in helping adolescents recover from anorexia nervosa.