Clinicians' Experiences of Eating Disorder Focused Family Therapy With Autistic Young People

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Duffy, F., Peebles, I., Clark, E., Loomes, R., Thomson, L., Maloney, E., & Nimbley, E. (2025). Clinicians' Experiences of Eating Disorder Focused Family Therapy With Autistic Young People. European Eating Disorders Review, 33(4), 637-646. https://doi.org/10.1002/erv.3173

Publication date: 20 Jan 2025 Added to AutiHub: 6 Jul 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
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Authors

Publication authors
7
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 7 (14.3%)
  1. Fiona Duffy
  2. Imogen Peebles
  3. Emma Clark
  4. Rachel Loomes
  1. Lisa Thomson
  2. Ellen Maloney *
  3. Emy Nimbley

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Eating disorder focused family therapy (FT-ED) is the leading outpatient intervention for adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa. Autistic people report poorer eating disorder treatment experiences and may be at increased risk of inpatient admissions. There is a need to consider adaptions to eating disorder treatment for this population. The aim of this study is to explore the experiences of clinicians in the delivery of FT-ED for Autistic young people with Anorexia Nervosa and any adaptations currently being implemented. METHOD: FT-ED trained clinicians who had experience of delivering this modality with young Autistic people and their families, were invited to take part in interviews. Transcripts were analysed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis. RESULTS: Eleven clinicians completed interviews and analysis generated four themes and eight subthemes: (1) Systemic context, (2) Raising potential autism, (3) Autism eating disorders crossover, (4) Manual versus adaptations. CONCLUSIONS: This paper is the first exploration of clinician's experience delivering FT-ED to Autistic young people and their families and highlighted unique considerations with this population. It is an initial step to consider adaptations to the FT-ED model, with the aim of making eating disorder treatments more effective, accessible and acceptable for Autistic young people and their families.

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These indicators describe the cited bibliography imported for this publication. Cited-reference metrics use the cited-reference total as denominator. Cited-author metrics state whether they use all cited-author occurrences or only occurrences linked to authors already integrated in the AutiHub database. They use cached links between cited authors and authors integrated in the AutiHub database. Last computed: 16 Aug 2026 11:31.

Cited references
42
Total cited references integrated for this publication.
Cited references with an identified autistic author
2 / 42 (4.8%)
Cited author occurrences identified as autistic
2 / 186 (1.1%)
Among occurrences linked to AutiHub author records: 2 / 33 (6.1%). Distinct cited authors identified as autistic: 2 / 163 (1.2%).
Cited author occurrences linked to AutiHub author records
33 / 186 (17.7%)
Distinct linked cited authors: 19 / 163 (11.7%)
Linked cited-author occurrences not identified as autistic
31 / 33 (93.9%)
Among linked cited-author occurrences only. Across all cited-author occurrences: 31 / 186 (16.7%). Distinct linked cited authors not identified as autistic: 17 / 19 (89.5%).
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