Adaptation of multi-family therapy for children and adolescents with anorexia nervosa in Japan

Abstract

Multi-family therapy for children and adolescents with anorexia nervosa (MFT-AN) draws on the same principles as family therapy for AN (FT-AN), but is delivered in a more intensive format to help families overcome a sense of isolation and stigmatisation and to maximise their own resources. In Japan, the main treatment for AN is inpatient care, and family-based treatment that is based on the practice at the Maudsley Hospital in the 1980s has started to be introduced at an inpatient level in Japan. MFT-AN could offer more opportunities to practice managing AN symptoms and reduce the family's anxiety. It may also act as a step-down intervention during transition from inpatient to outpatient care or a step-up in intensity if outpatient treatment is stalling. This article reports on MFT-AN's theoretical underpinnings, the current Japanese eating disorder treatment context, and the way MFT-AN may be adapted for the unique Japanese socio-cultural context.