Treatment of Eating Disorders

Overview

• Drugs – primarily antidepressants
    * Generally ineffective for anorexia nervosa
    * SSRIs good for bulimia
• Psychological treatments – usually cognitive behavioral therapy
    * Emphasis on core pathological mechanism: Distorted body image

Bulimia Nervosa

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT-E)
    * Treatment of choice
• Medical and drug treatments
    * Antidepressants
      * Can help reduce binging and purging behavior

Binge Eating Disorder

• Previously used medications for obesity are now not recommended
• Psychological treatment
    * CBT—effective
    * Interpersonal psychotherapy—equally effective as CBT
    * Self-help techniques—effective
    * IPT was effective for both rapid and nonrapid responders

Anorexia Nervosa

• General goals and strategies
    * Weight restoration
      * First and easiest goal to achieve
    * Psychoeducation
    * Behavioral and cognitive interventions
      * Target food, weight, body image, thought, and emotion
    * Treatment often involves the family
    * FBT has the most support from clinical trials for treating adolescents with anorexia

Preventing Eating Disorders

• Often focuses on promoting body acceptance in adolescent girls
• Identify specific targets
    * Early weight concerns
• Screening for at-risk groups (e.g. Sororities)
• Provide education
    * Normal weight limits
    * Effects of calorie restriction