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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anorexia Nervosa: An Update

  • Eating Disorders (C Grilo, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for anorexia nervosa (AN), based on Beck’s cognitive theory, was developed in a “generic” form in the early eighties. In recent years, however, improved knowledge of the mechanisms involved in maintaining eating disorder psychopathology has led to the development of a “specific” form of CBT, termed CBT-E (E = enhanced), designed to treat all forms of eating disorders, including AN, from outpatient to inpatient settings. Although more studies are required to assess the relative effectiveness of CBT-E with respect to other available treatments, the data indicate that in outpatient settings it is both viable and promising for adults and adolescents with AN. Encouraging results are also emerging from inpatient CBT-E, particularly in adolescents, and clinical services offering CBT-E at different levels of care are now offered in several countries around the world. However, CBT-E requires dissemination in order to become widely available to patients.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are very grateful to Christopher G. Fairburn for his suggestions and comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Eating and Weight Disorders, Villa Garda Hospital, Via Montebaldo, 89, I-37016, Garda, VR, Italy

    Riccardo Dalle Grave, Marwan El Ghoch, Massimiliano Sartirana & Simona Calugi

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  1. Riccardo Dalle Grave
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  2. Marwan El Ghoch
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  3. Massimiliano Sartirana
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  4. Simona Calugi
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Correspondence to Riccardo Dalle Grave.

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Riccardo Dalle Grave, Marwan El Ghoch, Massimilano Sartirana, and Simona Calugi declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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This research did not rely on any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Eating Disorders

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Dalle Grave, R., El Ghoch, M., Sartirana, M. et al. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anorexia Nervosa: An Update. Curr Psychiatry Rep 18, 2 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-015-0643-4

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