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