Cognitive-behavioral therapies are among the most widely used of all treatments for eating disorders. How and why?
Cognitive-behavioral therapies are among the most widely used of all treatments for eating disorders. How and why?
Eating disorders are characterised by severe disturbances in eating behavior. Some of the major disorders as categorized by DSM are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorders. These disruptive eating patterns of either starving oneself or binge eating is detrimental to one’s health in the long run.
Other than certain biological and social factors, personal factors too can be causal for eating disorders. Internalizing of thin ideal, perfectionism, negative body image and negative affect have all been seen to be prominent risk factors in development of eating disorders.
The major focus of the CBT intervention involves modifying distorted beliefs concerning weights and food and also incongruent beliefs about self (a negative self image) that might be contributing to the disorder.This is done by making the individual aware of over evaluation of himself. Further this self over-evaluation is diminished by increasing other significant avenues of evaluation than just shape and weight.
The therapist also focuses on the client's other interpersonal characteristics like self esteem, perceived perfectionism and other interpersonal problems. The therapist aids in developing problem solving skills, functional mood modulation and efforts at self appraising of the client.
While the Behavioral component of the therapy focuses on normalizing eating patterns through meal planning, nutritional education, and ending the binding purging cycles.
The therapist finally aims to achieve maintenance planning and relapse in the future by providing for realistic expectations of the future.
Step by step
Solved in 3 steps
