Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Treating Anorexia Nervosa

Eating disorder therapists rely primarily on cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical therapy and family-based therapy as anorexia nervosa treatment modalities. Recent research indicates that interpersonal therapy can also help patients in residential anorexia nervosa treatment centers by focusing on how they develop and manage interpersonal relationships. For example, patients in anorexia nervosa recovery typically describe having limited experience with maintaining intimate, healthy relationships because of their eating disorder (social withdrawal, low self-esteem, obsessive-compulsive habits that dictate behavior). Serious interpersonal issues often contribute to the continuation and worsening of eating disorder symptoms as well as the inability for anorexia nervosa patients to feel accepted by and meaningful to others.

Principles of Interpersonal Psychotherapy Used During Anorexia Nervosa Treatment

Interpersonal psychotherapy included in an anorexia nervosa treatment program involves the following:

  • Identifying recurring problems that prevent the person from establishing desired relationships (this also places emphasis on additional negative effects of anorexia nervosa)
  • Reviewing past relationships and the role the patient played in those relationships
  • Clarifying the nature of relationship disputes and learning, with help from the therapist, how disputes contributed to the deterioration of relationships
  • Exploring transitional roles in the patient’s life (going to college, moving out of their parent’s home, beginning a first job)
  • Coping with a loved one’s death (especially when patients in anorexia nervosa recovery realize their eating disorder emerged after the death of a loved one)

Interpersonal psychotherapists at anorexia nervosa treatment centers also help patients reconstruct negative and positive aspects of past relationships to further examine their emotions associated with important relationships. Often, eating disorder patients come to realize how their unhealthy idealization of certain relationships may have contributed to their anorexia nervosa. As therapists teach patients to focus less on the past and more on their future by encouraging them to develop new relationships and interests, patients in anorexia nervosa treatment ultimately begin understanding how their eating disorder affects their relationships and how some relationships intensify their anorexia nervosa symptoms.

Interpersonal psychotherapy is being used more often in anorexia nervosa treatment centers because of its effectiveness and associated with cognitive behavioral therapy. It is similarly structured like CBT and utilizes homework, a time-limited design, assessment tools, and formatted interviews. Principles of social and attachment theory are implicated in interpersonal psychotherapy as well, with emphasis placed on the positive impact social support networks have on anorexia nervosa recovery. Unlike standard psychotherapy, interpersonal psychotherapy does not try to conceptualize personality disorders but remains focused on humanistic applications of mindful awareness of elements vital to healthy, meaningful relationships.

What Do Research Studies Say About Interpersonal Psychotherapy in Anorexia nervosa Treatment Programs?

The European Eating Disorders Review journal reports a study involving 59 patients diagnosed with bulimia nervosa or eating disorders not otherwise specified (EDNOS) who entered eating disorder treatment consisting of 16 interpersonal psychotherapy sessions. Results indicate that around session eight, patients made significant improvement towards controlling symptoms. In addition, the authors of the study state that interpersonal psychotherapy may work more rapidly than other therapeutic interventions.

A 12-week trial of using interpersonal psychotherapy to treat depressed adolescents 12 to 18 years old found that teens receiving IP compared to depressed teens assigned to a control group experienced a notable reduction of their depression and enhanced improvement with social functioning. Researchers concluded their findings support the efficacy and feasibility of interpersonal psychotherapy for treating depression in adolescents. Therefore, IP not only helps treat eating disorders but can also treat the depression and anxiety accompanying an eating disorder.

Since patients receiving anorexia nervosa treatment generally receive the same psychotherapeutic interventions given to patients with bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder or EDNOS, research involving IP and an eating disorder can be clinically applied to patients in anorexia nervosa recovery.

Author Bio:
Mike is a health editor with a degree in Journalism and Social Communications, currently writing for several USA & UK publications. He is specialized in articles around health tips, workout plans, and other nutrition-related topics. His main aim is to help health charities to raise awareness on campaigns about misunderstood or commonly misdiagnosed conditions.