C. Dare et al., Psychological therapies for adults with anorexia nervosa - Randomised controlled trial of out-patient treatments, BR J PSYCHI, 178, 2001, pp. 216-221
Background Currently,without systematic evidence, psychotherapy for anorexi
a nervosa in adults draws on psychodynamic, cognitive and systemic theories
.
Aims To assess effectiveness of specific psychotherapies in out-patient man
agement of adult patients with anorexia nervosa.
Method Eighty-four patients were randomised to four treatments: three speci
fic psychotherapies - (a) a year of focal psychoanalytic psychotherapy; (b)
7 months of cognitive -analytic therapy (CAT); (c) family therapy for 1 yea
r - and (d) low contact, 'routine' treatment for 1 year (control).
Results At 1 year,there was symptomatic improvement in the whole group of p
atients. this improvement was modest, several patients being significantly
undernourished at follow-up. Psychoanalytic psychotherapy and family therap
y 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 Foundati
on and the Menial Health Research Fund.