CBT treatment for AN

Question 1

CBT A01 for AN

Answer 1

20 sessions over 20 weeks is standard. 40/40 for severely underweight (< 17.5 BMI)

Stages:

1) Eating plan and weekly weighing
2) Review current progress over two sessions
3) Client learns to focus on areas of life other than weight and shape
4) Maintain progress and prevent relapse. Weekly weighing remains at home and a follow up session done 20 weeks later

Question 2

CBT Eval. for AN

Answer 2

Strengths

• Fairburn (2015). 130 ppts do either CBT or Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT). After 20 weeks, 65.5% of CBT in remission, 33.3% of IPT.

Weaknesses

• In Fairburn, all ppts had BMI over 17.5, thus not severely underweight
• Sodersten (2017) compared CBT and normalisation of eating procedure. Remission rate 75%, compared to 45% for CBT. Implies that only the behavioural element of CBT is needed.
• High drop out rates w CBT. Carter (2012) found drop out rates of 45%. CBT is demanding and requires commitment. Only ‘completers’ are used in samples.