Psychological therapies for adult patients with anorexia nervosa: A randomized controlled trial of out-patient treatments

TY - JOUR

T1 - Psychological therapies for adult patients with anorexia nervosa: A randomized controlled trial of out-patient treatments

AU - Dare, C

AU - Eisler, I

AU - Russell, G F M

AU - Treasure, J

AU - Dodge, E

PY - 2001

Y1 - 2001

N2 - Background Currently,without systematic evidence, psychotherapy for anorexia nervosa in adults draws on psychodynamic, cognitive and systemic theories. Aims To assess effectiveness of specific psychotherapies in out-patient management of adult patients with anorexia nervosa. Method Eighty-four patients were randomised to four treatments: three specific psychotherapies - (a) a year of focal psychoanalytic psychotherapy; (b)7 months of cognitive -analytic therapy (CAT); (c) family therapy for 1 year - and (d) low contact, 'routine' treatment for 1 year (control). Results At 1 year,there was symptomatic improvement in the whole group of patients. this improvement was modest, several patients being significantly undernourished at follow-up. Psychoanalytic psychotherapy and family therapy were significantly superior to the control treatment; CAT tended to show benefits. Conclusions Psychoanalytic and family therapy are of specific value in the out-patient treatment of adult patients with anorexia. Declaration of interest Research support comes from the Leverhulme Foundation and the Menial Health Research Fund.

AB - Background Currently,without systematic evidence, psychotherapy for anorexia nervosa in adults draws on psychodynamic, cognitive and systemic theories. Aims To assess effectiveness of specific psychotherapies in out-patient management of adult patients with anorexia nervosa. Method Eighty-four patients were randomised to four treatments: three specific psychotherapies - (a) a year of focal psychoanalytic psychotherapy; (b)7 months of cognitive -analytic therapy (CAT); (c) family therapy for 1 year - and (d) low contact, 'routine' treatment for 1 year (control). Results At 1 year,there was symptomatic improvement in the whole group of patients. this improvement was modest, several patients being significantly undernourished at follow-up. Psychoanalytic psychotherapy and family therapy were significantly superior to the control treatment; CAT tended to show benefits. Conclusions Psychoanalytic and family therapy are of specific value in the out-patient treatment of adult patients with anorexia. Declaration of interest Research support comes from the Leverhulme Foundation and the Menial Health Research Fund.

U2 - 10.1192/bjp.178.3.216

DO - 10.1192/bjp.178.3.216

M3 - Article

SN - 1472-1465

VL - 178

SP - 216

EP - 221

JO - British Journal of Psychiatry

JF - British Journal of Psychiatry

IS - MARCH.

ER -