Investigation of virtual multi-family therapy for adolescent anorexia nervosa: feasibility and acceptability

Abstract Background Multi-Family Therapy for Anorexia Nervosa (MFT-AN) unites families navigating similar difficulties to promote more rapid recovery for adolescents with eating disorders. Designed as a collaborative, group-based intervention, MFT-AN shows promise for enhancing clinical outcomes while also broadening access to evidence-based care. This pilot study seeks to investigate the feasibility and acceptability of MFT-AN adapted to a virtual format. Methods Seventy-seven adolescents and 130 parents enrolled in this single-arm, pilot study. Measures included treatment interest, eligibility, scheduling, enrollment, and completion; surveys assessing acceptability, satisfaction, and perceived effectiveness; patient characteristics; eating disorder symptoms; and body mass index. Results There was a high level of interest in virtual MFT-AN. Of recruited and eligible families, nearly half scheduled a baseline assessment. Both attendance and study completion were high. Participants generally expressed acceptability of the virtual format, which still fostered connection amongst the group members. Descriptively, effect size changes from baseline to 12 months for global eating disorder symptoms and percent median BMI were medium-to-large. Conclusions Preliminary data suggest that the virtual MFT-AN program is feasible and acceptable. Though larger effectiveness trials are needed, this research lays the foundation for one method of increasing access and enhancing outcomes in evidence-based treatment for adolescent anorexia nervosa. Trial registration This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (ID NCT06203418).