The Maudsley Model of Family-Based Treatment for Anorexia Nervosa

The Maudsley model of family-based treatment for anorexia nervosa

The Maudsley model of family-based treatment for anorexia nervosa was first developed in London in the mid-1980s. In this model, parents are given the a primary role in treatment, working together as a team in the home setting to reefed their child and confront anorexic behavior. Parents are also encouraged to separate anorexia from the child while performing this task, blaming the anorexia rather than the child and therefore minimizing the escalation of expressed emotion (Rhodes, Gosbee, Madden, & Brown, 2005). Treatment also includes a family meal where family members are coached to take on their specific roles.

Siblings are incorporated in treatment to ease the patient’s distress resulting from this parental challenge to anorexia. They provide emotional support to their sister or brother. The siblings are not involved in the decisions about food or in monitoring eating, which is up to the parents. Instead, siblings can be someone to complain to, a shoulder to cry on, or someone to distract them from the difficult task of eating. Siblings can be an incredible resource for helping an adolescent in their recovery.

Once safe eating and weight are achieved through parental intervention, responsibility for these issues was gradually handed back to the adolescent. A shorter and final phase of treatment is then completed to help the family resume normal adolescent development after the delays caused by the anorexia. The efficacy of this approach has been established in a number of controlled trials (Rhodes et al., 2005).

Despite the demonstrated efficacy and excellent outcomes of the Maudsley model of family-based treatment for anorexia, another tre...

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...ther parents is a logical step to overcome issues isolation and creates a sense of solidarity. Peer support and criticism are powerful dynamics that can promote change, and being in the presence of other families has the effect of making the adolescent and their parents feel less central. They are a part of a large group, and the feeling of being constantly watched and observed by a professional is less intense.

With the integration of the Maudsley method and multiple family therapy, family tension and dispute can be reduced, and a cooperative and supportive atmosphere and working environment can be created for adolescents and their families (Rhodes et al., 2005). Working alongside each other allows parents and teens to compare notes and learn from each other. Families are consultants to other families, and they are there to help one another.