Search

Objective: Graded body image exposure is a key component of CBT for eating disorders (EDs). However, despite being a highly anxiety-provoking intervention, its specific effectiveness is unknown. The aims of this initial study were to investigate the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of individualized graded body image exposure to a range of feared/avoided body image-related situations in a sample of partially remitted ED patients., Method: Forty-five female adult participants were randomly assigned to maintenance treatment as usual (MTAU) only or MTAU plus five sessions of graded body image exposure., Results: The graded body image exposure intervention led to large improvements in body avoidance as measured by two different methods. In addition, there was evidence of a significant impact of body image exposure on the overvaluation of shape, but not weight, 5 months after treatment., Discussion: Taken together, the current results provide evidence of the feasibility of adjunctive individualized graded body image exposure within a clinical treatment program and suggest that graded body image exposure reduces body avoidance behaviors in partially remitted ED patients. Our findings suggest that individualized graded body image exposure shows promise as an intervention targeting the overvaluation of shape in EDs., (© 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Objective: Relapse remains a significant concern in bulimia nervosa, with some patients relapsing within months of treatment completion. The purpose of the study was to identify predictors of relapse within the first 6 months following treatment., Method: The 116 participants were bingeing and/or vomiting ≥ 8 times per month before day hospital (DH), and had ≤ 2 episodes per month in the last month of DH and the first month after DH. Rapid relapse was defined as ≥ 8 episodes per month for 3 months starting within 6 months., Results: The rate of rapid relapse was 27.6%. Patients who relapsed soon after DH had higher frequencies of bingeing and vomiting before treatment, engaged in less body avoidance before treatment and were more likely to be slow responders to treatment. Weight and shape concerns and body checking were not significant predictors., Discussion: More frequent bulimic symptoms accompanied by less body avoidance may indicate an entrenchment in the illness which in turn augurs a labored and transient response to DH treatment that is difficult to sustain after intensive treatment ends., (© 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare two maintenance treatment conditions for weight-restored anorexia nervosa (AN): individual cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and maintenance treatment as usual (MTAU)., Method: This study was a nonrandomized clinical trial. The participants were 88 patients with AN who had achieved a minimum body mass index (BMI) of 19.5 and control of binge eating and purging symptoms after completing a specialized hospital-based program. Forty-six patients received 1 year of manualized individual CBT and 42 were in an assessment-only control condition (i.e., MTAU) for 1 year. This condition was intended to mirror follow-up care as usual. Participants in both the conditions were assessed at 3-month intervals during the 1-year study. The main outcome variable was time to relapse., Results: When relapse was defined as a BMI