Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy for Anorexia Nervosa

This book presents CBT-AN-20, a newly developed briefer form of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) for anorexia nervosa, designed to treat individuals in 20 sessions, helping clinicians to offer effective therapy to more patients and enabling patients to move more quickly towards recovery.

This manual addresses the key CBT skills needed to deliver effective CBT-AN-20. It uses a combination of psychoeducation, nutrition, exposure therapy, and behavioural experiments to overcome starvation and to support essential weight gain/stability. It then details the skills needed to work with emotional factors and with body image issues. Importantly, it also stresses the meta-competences needed to work with anorexia nervosa – such as early change, motivational work, engaging with the "anorexic voice", and maintaining a working alliance that stresses change. Accompanying the text is a range of useful web-based materials to support the clinician reading the manual. These include checklists, psychoeducation materials, measures, and videos of skills in action.

CBT-AN-20’s pragmatic structure supports its delivery by both experienced therapists and those newer to the field who are practising under expert supervision. This book is a "must read" for all levels of practitioners from all disciplines who work with eating disorders.