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Treatments for specific eating disorders
Evidence shows that some treatment approaches are better suited to particular eating disorders than others. For a clearer understanding of what treatment is most effective for each eating disorder, the treatment approaches are grouped by eating disorder below.
The Information in this section is based on the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines for the treatment and management of eating disorders as well as the National Eating Disorders Collaboration Evidence Review.
More information on guidelines
Anorexia
Psychological treatment has been clinically proven to reduce the severity, impact and duration of Anorexia Nervosa. The long term aims of psychological treatment for Anorexia Nervosa are to reduce risk, encourage weight gain, normal eating and exercise behaviours, with full psychological and physical recovery as the ultimate goal.
Ideally, the treatment of people with Anorexia Nervosa are managed on an outpatient basis, with psychological treatment and physical monitoring provided by a healthcare professional with specialised knowledge in eating disorders.
Therapies to be considered for the treatment of Anorexia Nervosa include:
| Psychological Treatments |
| Behavioural therapy |
| Cognitive analytic therapy |
| Cognitive behaviour therapy |
| Ego-oriented therapy-adolescent focused individual therapy (for children and adolescents) |
| Focal psychodynamic therapy |
| Family interventions focused explicitly on eating disorders |
| Maudsley family-based treatment (for children and adolescents) |
| Interpersonal psychotherapy |
| Specialist supportive clinical management |
Other treatments
Antidepressants (specifically selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI))or antipsychotics
Please note: medication should not be used as the sole or primary treatment for Anorexia Nervosa; rather, it should be used in conjunction with therapy appropriate for the treatment of Anorexia Nervosa.
Bulimia Nervosa
Therapies to be considered for the treatment of Bulimia Nervosa include:
| Psychological Treatments |
| Evidence based self help programs |
| Cognitive behavioural therapy for Bulimia Nervosa |
| Interpersonal psychotherapy |
| Maudsley family-based treatment (for children and adolescents) |
| Dialectical Behaviour Therapy |
| Guided imagery |
| Crisis intervention |
| Stress management |
Other treatments
Antidepressants (specifically selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI))
Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS)
As a result of the atypical nature of EDNOS it is most effective to follow the treatments recommended for the eating disorder that most closely resembles the individual person’s eating problem. For example, if a person presents with many but not all of the symptoms of Bulimia Nervosa, it is recommended for that person to seek the same treatment approaches recommended for people with Bulimia Nervosa.
Binge Eating Disorder (BED)
Therapies to be considered for the treatment of Binge Eating Disorder include:
| Psychological Treatments |
| Evidence based self help programs |
| Cognitive behaviour therapy for Binge Eating Disorder |
| Interpersonal psychotherapy |
| Dialectical Behaviour Therapy |
Other treatments
Antidepressants (SSRIs)
If the person with the eating disorder also presents with symptoms of obesity, this will need to be managed simultaneously.
