How Do Outpatients Experience 20-Session Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Anorexia Nervosa (CBT-AN-20)? A Qualitative...

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry and Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Eating Disorder Treatment Research

Background:

• Anorexia nervosa requires efficient psychological treatments for timely recovery.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anorexia Nervosa (CBT-AN-20) is a new 20-session outpatient therapy.
• This study focuses on adult patients' subjective experiences with CBT-AN-20.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore adult outpatients' experiences with the novel CBT-AN-20 therapy for anorexia nervosa.
• To gather qualitative data on patient perceptions of therapy effectiveness and components.
• To inform future development and implementation of CBT-AN-20.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving 16 adult outpatients with anorexia nervosa in UK services.
• Data collected via surveys including Likert-scale and open-ended questions (Jan 2023-May 2024).
• Analysis employed descriptive statistics and thematic analysis; ethical clearance obtained.

Main Results:

• Patients rated CBT-AN-20 as moderately high in suitability and positively in helpfulness.
• Thematic analysis revealed key themes: therapeutic relationship, therapy characteristics (structure/content), and evolving experiences over time.
• Patient perceptions of the therapeutic relationship were mixed, and therapy experiences differed based on treatment stage.

Conclusions:

• CBT-AN-20 is perceived as acceptable and potentially beneficial for some adult anorexia nervosa outpatients.
• Recommendations include developing psychoeducational materials for early treatment stages and involving patients in future research.
• Further research should explore therapists' perspectives and integrate findings with outcome data to refine CBT-AN-20.