Lägenhetsbehandling av barn och ungdomar med ätstörning En kvalitativ studie av föräldrars upplevelse av intensiv familjebaserad behandling i lägenhet

Abstract

Intense family-based treatment for eating disorders in a special family treatment apartment has been conducted by the Eating Disorder Team at the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Service in Östersund, Sweden, since 2019. The treatment model is offered in some cases to families when usual family-based treatment (FBT) in outpatient care is an insufficient effort. The purpose of the study was to investigate parents’ experience of the treatment model. The goal was to gain knowledge about, and if so how, the treatment intervention should be modified to better meet the needs of the families. Seven parents who underwent apartment treatment were interviewed using semi-structured interviews. The result, which was based on three main themes and nine sub-themes that emerged during the thematic analysis, showed that the parents were unanimously grateful to have undergone apartment treatment and that they agreed that the treatment model had been helpful in the fight against the child’s eating disorder. Particularly helpful factors that were highlighted were concrete help and increased knowledge about the disorder and the treatment, clear structure, the intensity of the treatment and the presence and support of the therapists. Good relational and emotional support from the therapists was highlighted. Stress in the adult relationship as well as performance requirements regarding cooking was mentioned. No concrete proposals for change in the treatment model emerged, however, several parents had ideas for improvements such as improved information before treatment, visual support to clarify the course of the disorder and improved care planning of subsequent treatment. Recovery was emphasized by several parents, who also gave tips and suggestions for this.