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Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for eating disorders

Homepage Articles Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for eating disorders

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for eating disorders

Eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and orthorexia, and eating disorder. That's why understanding the nature, causes, effects, and appropriate therapeutic approaches are essential to dealing with them. It's a serious problem, and the number of cases increases year after year. At the root of each is a complex pattern of behavior, thoughts, and emotions that often comes from negative beliefs, low self-esteem, and a poor relationship with the body. One of the most commonly used methods is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which protects both the physical and psychological health of people, and has enormous consequences for both physical and mental health.

Table of Contents

1. Causes of eating disorders

People who experience them may use food as a way of coping with difficult emotions. In addition, social and cultural factors, such as social pressure, significantly affect their perception of beauty and body norms, which can lead to the development of unhealthy eating habits and eating disorders. Individuals who experience it may use eating as a family way to cope with difficult feelings. Additionally, eating can play a role in some kind of emotional compensation. Additional feelings of stress can also give us a sense of control over situations in which other aspects of life may not consume them or seem to overcome them. Treasure hunts that these behaviors can often have a positive impact on individuals' physical and mental health problems, as well as psychological and psychological problems, and that can often lead to a combination of physical and emotional problems, mental health issues, and mental illness.

2. What is Polish therapy: < extra_id_1>

The ultimate goal is to change habits for the better. It is used in many areas, including the treatment of depression, anxiety, phobia, eating disorders, post-traumatic stress, sleep problems, or addictions (NHS 2022). CBT focuses on identifying and working on negative thought patterns and behaviors that may contribute to health or emotional problems. Behavioral therapy is based on scientific research and empirically proven techniques, making it one of the most documented and effective therapeutic approaches.

3. Techniques used in CBT for eating disorders

Self-acceptance plays an important role in the development of eating disorders (M. De Jong, M. Schoorl, H.W. Hoek, 2018). Her work on cognitive-behavioral therapy is therefore essential to understanding that value and identity do not depend on body weight or appearance, which contributes to improving overall mental and emotional well-being. However, she suggests that the basis of cognitive behaviour therapy in the case of a mental disorder is the ability to achieve cognitive impairment through the use of alternative therapeutic approaches to treat the disease.

4. The effectiveness of CBT

In anorexia, CBT helps patients change negative beliefs about body weight and appearance and work to reconstruct eating-related thoughts and behaviors. Research suggests that the effects of CBT therapy may persist long after therapy is over. It's also worth noting that cognitive-behavioral therapy not only improves mental health but can also contribute to improving physical health by reducing destructive eating and weight-related behaviors and controlling eating habits. Linardon 2017). After 2 years, research has shown that CBT-related cognitive behavioral therapy can be more effective by identifying and treating patients more effectively than single-stage psychoanalytic therapy (i.e. in patients with a 20-month-long history of cognitive therapy). CBT has been studied more than 7 times in 2015 and has been shown to improve the effectiveness of treatment in the treatment of patients with mental health disorders, as well as in clinical trials to treat mental health problems and behavioral problems, and it has been proven to be effective in more than 2 clinical and clinical studies to treat patients with CBT.

5. The role of dietetics in cognitive behavioral therapy

The collaboration of these specialists can bring numerous benefits to people with eating disorders. Developing a personalized diet plan that takes into account the individual needs and goals of the patient can help restore normal weight and improve physical health. Support in both physical and emotional areas significantly increases the chances of recovery and long-term health outcomes (M. A key element of effective treatment of eating disorder is a holistic approach.
Source

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De Jong M., Schoorl M., Hoek H.W., Enhanced cognitive behavioural therapy for patients with eating disorders: a systematic review, „Current Opinion in Psychiatry” 2018, 31(6), 436–444.
Fairburn C.G. et al., A transdiagnostic comparison of enhanced cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT-E) and interpersonal psychotherapy in the treatment of eating disorders, „Behaviour Research and Therapy” 2015, 70, 64–71.
Jaworski M. et al., Nutritional rehabilitation in anorexia nervosa: the role and scope of dietitian’s work in a therapeutic team, „Medycyna Ogólna i Nauki o Zdrowiu” 2017, 23(2), 122–128.
Linardon J. et al., The efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy for eating disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis, „Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology” 2017, 85(11), 1080–1094.
Overview – Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/talking-therapies-and-counselling/cognitive-behavioural-therapy-cbt/overview/ (24.08.2023).
Poulsen S. et al., A randomized controlled trial of psychoanalytic psychotherapy or cognitive-behavioral therapy for bulimia nervosa, „American Journal of Psychiatry” 2014, 171(1), 109–116.
Treasure J., Duarte T.A., Schmidt U., Eating disorders, „Lancet” 2020, 395(10227), 899–911.