Little is known about how severe anorexia nervosa (AN) in youths affects siblings and siblings' experiences of family-based treatment for AN. Thirteen youths (M age = 15.5 years, SD = 3.0; 23% boys) who had been co-admitted with their sibling with AN and parents at an in-patient clinic for eating disorders 3 to 6 years earlier participated in qualitative interviews. Interviews were analyzed using systematic text condensation. Results showed AN is difficult to understand, particularly at onset, and is associated with confusion and lack of information for siblings. AN evokes difficult emotions, including fears of death, frustration about rigid behavior, and sadness about changed life situations. AN affects family dynamics and relations, including conflicts and disruptions at home, limited and divided family life, and less attention from parents and extended family. Siblings pay attention to other people' eating habits, strive for a balanced view on eating, and experience family meals as conflictual. Siblings experience increased knowledge and personal development, and are ambivalent to family treatment. Ways of coping include creating distance, seeking social support, rationalizing, and keeping hope. In conclusion, siblings' experiences of severe AN are complex and ambiguous. Family-based treatment for AN in young people should address siblings' perspectives.

Personality, self-esteem, and life satisfaction varied significantly between outcome groups. The results indicate that young patients with AN with a good outcome may have normal personality and self-esteem features in young adulthood.

Objective: To investigate perception of treatment in former patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) and their parents, and to determine whether this was related to outcome and treatment characteristics. Client satisfaction is important for treatment engagement and adherence.Method: Forty-six (of 55) girls with adolescent onset AN, 33 mothers and 26 fathers participated in a follow-up study conducted 8.8 (SD 3.3) years after start of treatment. The former patients were assessed using diagnostic interviews. Only nine participants (19%) had an eating disorder (ED) at follow-up. Perception of treatment was assessed by questionnaires.

Inpatient family-based therapy for AN may be a promising therapeutic approach for adolescents that fail to respond to outpatient treatment and should be investigated further. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.