The article reports on an innovative treatment for adolescent anorexia nervosa (AN) – intensive multi‐family therapy – in terms of symptoms, patients’ and parental psychological functioning and treatment acceptability. In all, thirty patients and their families took part in the study and were assessed at baseline, 3 and 6 months. At 6 months two‐thirds had gained sufficient weight to be in the normal weight range with significant improvements in AN cognition, mood and self‐esteem. Only two of the thirty families discontinued treatment early and both patients and parents scored high on treatment satisfaction, though parents scored significantly higher than patients. These results compare favourably with outcome data from larger more rigorous evaluations of single family therapy for adolescent AN currently considered to be the treatment of choice. While larger, randomized studies are needed, the results are promising and suggest that multi‐family therapy may be a useful additional treatment approach for this group of young people. Practitioner points Multi‐family therapy may provide an effective intervention for adolescent anorexia nervosa and compares well with other, more rigorously evaluated interventions. Multi‐family therapy is highly successful in engaging families in treatment leading to minimal dropout rates. Satisfaction with multi‐family therapy is high for both adolescents and parents.

A single consultation about eating behaviour or weight and shape concerns is a strong predictor of the subsequent emergence of anorexia nervosa.