Outpatient CBT for underweight patients with eating disorders: effectiveness within a National Health Service (NHS) Eating Disorders service

Jenkins, P. E. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1673-2903, Morgan, C. and Houlihan, C. (2019) Outpatient CBT for underweight patients with eating disorders: effectiveness within a National Health Service (NHS) Eating Disorders service. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 47 (2). pp. 217-229. ISSN 1352-4658 doi: 10.1017/S1352465818000449

Abstract/Summary

Background: Underweight eating disorders (EDs) are notoriously difficult to treat, although a growing evidence base suggests that outpatient cognitive behaviour therapy for EDs (CBT-ED) can be effective for a large proportion of individuals. Aims: To investigate the effectiveness of CBT-ED for underweight EDs in a ‘real-world’ settings. Method: Sixty-three adults with underweight EDs (anorexia nervosa or atypical anorexia nervosa) began outpatient CBT-ED in a National Health Service setting. Results: Fifty-four percent completed treatment, for whom significant changes were observed on measures of ED symptoms, psychological distress, and psychosocial impairment. There was also a large effect on body weight at end-of-treatment. Conclusions: The results suggest that good outcomes can be achieved by the majority of those who complete treatment, although treatment non-completion remains a significant barrier to recovery. Future studies should focus on improving treatment retention, as evidence suggests that CBT-ED in ‘real world’ settings is effective.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/77109
Identification Number/DOI	10.1017/S1352465818000449
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Life Sciences > School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences > Department of Psychology Life Sciences > School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences > Psychopathology and Affective Neuroscience
Publisher	Cambridge University Press
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