‘That's Not Our Pathway’: Parent and Carer Experiences of Eating Disorder Focused Family Therapy (FT-ED) for Autistic Young People With Anorexia Nervosa
Date published: 13/03/26
Authors: Emy Nimbley, Imogen Peebles, Rachel Loomes, Emma Clark, Amelia Austin & Fiona Duffy
Published in: European Eating Disorders Review
Background
Autistic people report poorer treatment outcomes for their eating
disorder (ED) in comparison to non-autistic peers. Eating disorder
focused family therapy (FT-ED) is the leading outpatient intervention
for adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa (AN). The aim of this study was to
explore the experiences of parents of autistic young people who have
received FT-ED, and any recommended adaptations to treatment.
Method
Parents of an autistic young person who had received FT-ED within the
last 3 years were invited to take part in interviews. Transcripts were
analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.
Results
Twelve parents of autistic young people with AN completed interviews andanalysis generated four core themes: (1) Questioning the principles of
FT-ED, (2) Navigating the FT-ED process, (3) Parental (dis)empowerment,
(4) Adapting FT-ED.
Conclusions
This paper is the first exploration of parents of autistic young
peoples' experience of FT-ED for AN, and it highlights possible
treatment adaptations for this population. It is part of a larger body
of work to consider adaptations to FT-ED, with the aim of making ED
treatments more effective, accessible and acceptable for autistic young
people and their families.
Summary
- Parents of autistic YP with anorexia nervosa raised concerns about the
suitability of some FT-ED principles (externalisation, agnostic stance),
and their experience that treatment can be facilitated in a very
manualised and impersonal way. - A lack of guidance and support in making adaptations to FT-ED for their
autistic child, led to a requirement for parent-led advocacy to make
autism affirming adaptations. - Parents identified a number of adaptations that could be made to the
delivery of FT-ED including the increased use of the separated approach,
incorporating more techniques to manage distress and bespoke training
for ED clinicians.3
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