What is day programme treatment for Anorexia Nervosa really like? Part 2: A reflexive thematic analysis of feedback from parents

Abstract Background: A significant proportion of young people do not respond to NICE recommended treatment for anorexia nervosa: Family Therapy (FT-AN). Evidence is building for the effectiveness of day programmes as an alternative to inpatient admissions for young people whom traditional community treatment has not benefited. One day programme that has been found to be effective is the Intensive Treatment Programme (ITP) of the Maudsley Centre for Child & Adolescent Eating Disorders in London, UK. However, to-date limited data are available on how parents of young people attending experience such a day programme. Method: Anonymous feedback was completed via online survey by 64 parents over a 5-year period (2018-2023) on discharge from ITP. Results: Five main themes emerged: (1) Clarity and consistency are key; (2) Skills and practical support; (3) Collaborative relationships; (4) Layers of change; (5) It wasn’t all great. Conclusions: Expanding our understanding of parental experiences is important given the FT-AN model holds expectations that “the family is needed as a resource” and that parents should “take a lead in managing their child’s eating”. It is hoped that increased understanding will lead to services continuing to improve the support they provide.