Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Eating Disorders

Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Eating Disorders Fairburn et al. argue that an extreme need to control eating is a central feature of Anorexia nervosa, and that in Western societies a tendency to judge self worth in terms of shape and weight is superimposed on this need for self control, (1999). The DSM IV diagnostic criteria for AN includes the refusal or inability to maintain body weight over a minimum normal weight for age and height, e.…

…approach is associated with a substantially reduced risk of relapse, ( Jones et al., 2001). However, at present CBT is a fairly scarce commodity, often provided by highly skilled and experienced therapists, (Jones et al., 2001). Its application in day to day practice may be restricted by the availability of suitable practitioners and similarly, the present data provides little indication of how effective CBT procedures might be when they are applied by less experienced practitioners, (Jones et al., 2001).