Treating Patients With Comorbid Eating Disorders and Personality Disorders: A Rationale

Eating disorders (ED) have heightened risk for both psychiatric and medical complications, and they require more effective psychological interventions, in light of evidence saying that treatment response is often incomplete, and attrition is significant. One possible avenue to improve treatment effectiveness is address the frequent co-occurrence with personality disorders (PD). When persons suffer from both ED and PD they would present with complex manifestations and serious interpersonal problems. In parallel, their capacity to form a solid working alliance can be limited. They are likely to have difficulty trusting clinicians and engaging in the necessary work needed to counteract their maladaptive ideas about food, weight and body image, and to change their problematic eating habits. This introduction of the issue of the Journal of Clinical Psychology: In Session devoted to treating patients with comorbid ED and PD describe the rationale for why it is necessary to assess and treat PD symptoms integrated with appropriate ED focused treatment.