Sections
Introduction | Outpatient Psychotherapy for Anorexia Nervosa | Outpatient Psychotherapy for Bulimia Nervosa | Outpatient Psychotherapy for Binge-Eating Disorder | Other Psychological Treatments | Self-Help and Innovative Therapies for Eating Disorders: Self-Help for Bulimia Nervosa and Binge-Eating Disorder | Alternative Delivery Systems for Eating Disorder Psychological Treatment | Conclusion and Recommendations | References
Excerpt
The lion's share of treatment research in the field of eating disorders focuses on the two most widely recognized eating disorders: anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN). In addition, with the publication of DSM-IV (American Psychiatric Association 1994), binge-eating disorder (BED) emerged as a distinct disorder warranting further exploration, and thus a growing database exists regarding treatment efficacy for BED as well. Because outpatient psychotherapy is the cornerstone of clinical care for eating disorders, this chapter focuses on evidence-based outpatient psychotherapies for AN, BN, and BED. The extant knowledge base varies in strength and breadth across these disorders and across different stages of treatment for these disorders. This chapter highlights the extent to which the existing knowledge base can inform clinical work. It also underscores the gaps in the knowledge base that clinical research should aim to fill in the coming years. This chapter does not address medication or family therapy interventions. The role of medication in the treatment of eating disorders is discussed in Chapter 47, and the utility of family therapy is discussed in Chapter 49.