cont. from

Mind/Body Medicine

Anorexia and CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is reported to be one of the most effective therapies for anorexia. It is based on the assumption that anorexia develops in response to life stresses. Treatment is aimed at confronting the individual's fears and avoidance behaviors and cultivating new problem-solving skills. It also aims to increase awareness of negative thought processes and to change them. Cognitive techniques are used to encourage patients to evaluate and challenge their automatic thoughts, examine their underlying assumptions, and replace them with realistic beliefs and actions based on reasonable self-expectations.

Anorexia and Family Therapy

Family therapy is recommended for both children and adults, in addition to individual therapy for the person with anorexia. Parents and other family members often have intense feelings of guilt and anxiety that they need to address. They may actually support the individual's eating disorder out of these feelings or perhaps they, too, put a premium on being thin. Family therapy is aimed, in part, at helping the parents or partner (in the case of an adult) understand the medical gravity of this illness and the ways in which they may be inadvertently contributing to it.

Anorexia and Hypnosis

Hypnosis has been shown to be successful as part of an integrated treatment program for anorexia nervosa. Evidence suggests that purging anorexics have a greater hypnotic ability—and thus may be more likely to benefit from hypnosis—than restrictive anorexics. Hypnosis reportedly strengthens both self-confidence and the ability to cope, which may result in healthier eating, improved, and greater self-esteem. Whether or not the treatment is successful may depend on the number of sessions; individual programs have generally involved 1-hour per week for 3 months followed by bi-weekly sessions until treatment is no longer needed.

Anorexia and Biofeedback

Studies suggest that biofeedback may be helpful in reducing stress in people with anorexia.

continue: Pregnancy, Prognosis and Complications . section table of contents

top . pages 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 . send to friend . eating disorders site map

Reviewed: 03/2006