Transdiagnostic cognitive behaviour therapy for adolescents with an eating disorder who are not underweight

Highlights

• A cohort of non-underweight adolescents with an eating disorder was treated with enhanced CBT (CBT-E).

• Three-quarters completed the full 20 sessions.

• Two-thirds had minimal eating disorder psychopathology by the end (intent-to-treat).

• CBT-E appears to be a promising treatment for this patient group.

Abstract

Little is known about the treatment of adolescents with an eating disorder who are not underweight. Enhanced cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT-E) is a potential option as it is a treatment for adult patients with eating disorders of this type and it has been shown to be effective with adolescent patients who are underweight. The aim of the present cohort study was to evaluate the effects of CBT-E on non-underweight adolescents with an eating disorder. Sixty-eight adolescent patients with an eating disorder and a body mass index (BMI) centile corresponding to an adult BMI ≥18.5 were recruited from consecutive referrals to a community-based eating disorder clinic. Each was offered 20 sessions of CBT-E over 20 weeks. Three-quarters completed the full 20 sessions. There was a marked treatment response with two-thirds (67.6%, intent-to-treat) having minimal residual eating disorder psychopathology by the end of treatment. CBT-E therefore appears to be a promising treatment for those adolescents with an eating disorder who are not underweight.