Table 3.

Narrative Synthesis: From onset to recovery

Theme	Experience
Progressive Intensification of AN	Quick escalation of symptoms
	Series of failed treatment attempts and/or hospital inpatient admissions
	Unsuccessful engagement with FBT
Fracturing of the family unit	Parents differing in opinion on severity, nature and appropriate treatment of illness
	Family members each feel isolated
	Family unit disconnected
Crisis point reached	AN reaches extreme level
	Family unit disconnected
	Family at ‘rock-bottom’
	FAP accepted as last-resort option
Participation in FAP	Re-integration of family unit
	Positive experience overcoming AN
	Insight and motivation to fight AN
Ongoing process of recovery	Re-engagement with FBT
	Ongoing process of improvement from AN, with periods of relapses and remissions