TABLE 5.

Summary of qualitative findings (n = 10)

Author	Design	Mean age	Sample N (% female a , race/ethnicity a , SES)	Diagnosis	Setting	MFT model	#MFT days	Mean length (months)	Analysis methodology/notes	Themes and findings
Young person MFT
Baumas et al. (2021) [France]	YP and parent focus groups of MFT experience and change mechanisms	Px: 16.3 (2.5, 14–19)	9 [from 4 families] ‐3 Px ‐4 mothers ‐2 fathers (F: 67%) (R/E: nr) (SES: nr)	AN (100%)	Inpatient and Outpatient	Blend of Cook‐Darzens (2007) and “Maudsley model”	10 x 3 h sessions	1 year	Thematic analysis	Main themes (both groups) Difficulty linking patients' evolution and MFT Being in a group has several positive effects MFT improved the family dynamics Criticism of the disparity in the stages of the disease among patients Frustration that family issues could not be discussed in the group Adolescent and parent group specific themes Improvements over the last year Changes in the family emotional tone Parent only group‐specific themes Parents' concerns about the short‐term deleterious effects of MFT on their children Difficulties to cope with the topics discussed in therapy Comparison of multi‐ and single‐family therapy
Duarte (2012) [UK]	Individual interviews and focus groups of YP and parent's experience of MFT for BN	Px: 15.8 (nr, 14–17)	15 [from 9 families] ‐6 Px ‐8 parents ‐1 sibling (F: 100%) (R/E: White brit. 33%, Mixed race 11%, missing 56%) (SES: nr)	BN (% nr) EDNOS‐BP (% nr)	Outpatient	Maudsley model (Stewart et al. 2015)	12	20 weeks	Thematic analysis of groups and individual interviews of YP and parents	Themes Group as a source of support “learning from and with each other” (YP & parent theme) Removed sense of isolation Learning from and with each other Parents/carer's awareness (YP & parent theme) Of own behaviour Of adolescent's experience Family relationships (YP & parent theme) Coping mechanisms/management of BN (YP & parent theme) Improvements in adolescents (parent theme) Moods and feelings BN symptoms A secretive disorder: BN as taboo (parent theme) Communication within the group (YP theme) Limitation in what could be said Space to meet adolescents' needs Challenge within the group
Engman‐Bredvik, Carballeira Suarez, Levi, and Nilsson (2016) [Sweden]	Parent structured interviews on the experiences of MFT	[Px: 14.9 (nr, 12–17)]	12 [from 6 families] ‐0 Px ‐6 mothers ‐6 fathers (F: 100%) (R/E: nr) (SES: nr)	[YP: AN (100%)]	Inpatient and Outpatient	Wallin (2011) model	10 days	1 year	Empirical, psychological, phenomenological method (EPP) (Lundberg, et al., 2007) 1–2 months post‐EOT	Themes: Positive experiences New perspectives Improved family dynamics
Salaminiou (2005) [UK]	YP and parents interviews of the experience of MFT	nr (<18)	34 [from 18 families] ‐16 Px ‐18 mothers ‐10 fathers (F: 94%) (R/E: nr) (SES: 50% UK social class I or II / 50% social class III or IV)^	AN (% nr) EDNOS‐R (% nr)	Outpatient	Maudsley model	9–11 days	9 months	Content analysis of EOT interviews with researcher	Themes Treatment expectations Feelings joining MFT
										2.MFT process A support network for parents A support network for patients Specific interventions MFT environment (practical and relational)
										3.Perceived changed during/due to MFT Perceived changes in the patient Perceived changes in the parent(s)
										4.Future directions Some suggestions
Voriadaki et al. (2015) [UK]	YP and parent experience of MFT process during first 4‐days (focus groups, daily diary writing, rating scales)	nr (nr, 15–16)	15 [from 6 families] ‐5 Px ‐6 mothers ‐4 fathers (F:100%) (R/E: White brit. 80%, Asian brit. 20%) (SES: 100% “social class II or III”)^	AN (100%)	Outpatient	Maudsley model	10 (only experience of first 4 days reflected on)	9 months	Interpretative phenomenological analysis using multiple data sources (focus groups, daily diary writing, rating scales)	Main themes for first 4 days of MFT: Day 1: The similarity in food‐related experiences facilitated awareness of the illness Day 2: Becoming aware of the adolescents' and parents' position and role in relation to illness Day 3: An intense day that revealed the current upsets and future possibilities Day 4: Reflecting on progress achieved and the challenge of recovery
Wiseman, Ensoll, Russouw, and Butler (2019a) [UK]	Focus group and interviews: Caregiver and clinician experience of MFT	[Px: 14.6 (nr, 14–16)]	4 [from 3 families] [family role nr] (F: 100%) (R/E: White brit. 100%) (SES: “Diverse”) [All YP (n = 5) declined to participate]	[YP: AN (100%)]	Outpatient	Maudsley model	9 days	7 months	Thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006)	Main themes identified: The value of offering MFT in a specialist community eating disorder service The set‐up and structure of MFT in a specialist community eating disorder service T he challenges of implementing MFT
Wiseman, Ensoll, Russouw, and Butler (2019b) [UK]	Focus groups and interviews: Caregiver and clinician perspective on how change occurs and how MFT adds to existing treatment pathways	[Px: 14.6 (nr, 14–16)]	4 [from 5 families] ‐0 Px ‐2 fathers ‐1 mother ‐1 g.mother (F: 100%) (R/E: White brit. 100%) (SES: “Diverse”) [All YP (n = 5) declined to participate]	[YP: AN (100%]	Outpatient	Maudsley model	10 days	nr	Thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006)	Sub‐themes of main theme: Mechanisms of MFT for creating recovery‐focused change: The experience of being with other families Family bonding Shifting guilt and shame Intensity of MFT Thinking about AN differently Parental confidence
Adult MFT
Brinchmann and Krvavac (2021) [Norway]	Patient and families' experience of MFT. Data collected from field observations in 2 MFT groups as well as qualitative group and individual interviews	Px: mean nr (nr, 18–22)	48 b [from 12 families] ‐12 Px ‐12 “sets of parents” c ‐9 siblings ‐1 g.mother ‐2 partners] (F:100%) (R/E: nr) (SES: nr)	AN (67%) BN (33%)	Inpatient and (mostly) outpatient	As per Skarbø and Balmbra (2020)	6 x 2–3 day gatherings	1 year	Grounded theory	Main categories: Connectedness and recognition Opening up and sharing
Tantillo, McGraw, Hauenstein, and Groth (2015) [USA]	Focus groups of patient and carer experience of recovery process and emo/beh/ improvement in MFT	Px: 23.4 (6.0, 20–34)	17 [from 10 families] ‐5 Px ‐9 mothers ‐3 fathers (F: 80%) (R/E: Cauc. 82%, Asian Amer. 12%, Latino 6%) d (SES: 80% full time college, 20% working FT) d	AN (% nr) EDNOS (% nr)	Outpatient	Relational/motivational MFT group	8 sessions	8 weeks	Content analysis	Themes identified: Recovery is experienced as a long, arduous process marked by many disconnections and intense emotion; MFTG‐RM helped to identify disconnections and renew communication and connections MFTG‐RM helped with identification and expression of emotions MFTG‐RM indirectly helped AN symptom
Whitney, Currin, Murray, and Treasure (2012)) [UK]	60–90 m individual interviews investigating carers experience of FT (n = 10) or MFT (n = 11)	[Px: 25 (9, 18–53)] Carers: 47 (13, 21–62)	23 [from 15 families] ‐0 Px ‐17 parents ‐4 siblings ‐1 husband ‐1 daughter (F: nr) (R/E: nr) (SES: nr)	[Px: AN (100%)]	Inpatient	Family day workshops (Treasure et al., 2011)	3 days	3 days	Interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA)	Main themes: Who was involved and what were the experiences of working together? What was involved in the intervention and how was it perceived? When is the intervention presented? Where was the intervention held?
										5.How did the intervention work? Improving communication Making sense of the illness Insight into self, others, and the family Feeling empowered

Abbreviations: AN, anorexia nervosa; BN bulimia nervosa; EDNOS, eating disorder not otherwise specified; EOT, end of treatment; FT, family therapy; MFT, multi‐family therapy; MFTG‐RM, Relational/motivational multi‐family therapy group; nr, not reported; px, patient; SES; socioeconomic status; YP, young person.

^a Patient data only.

^b Sample size reported is for all participants included in fieldwork and qualitative interviews.

^c Counted as n = 24 individuals in study total sample above (N = 48).

^d Data are for all participants in study (N = 17) as patient‐only data are not reported.