Enhanced Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Article Review - Essay Example

Summary The article by Fairburn et al. examined the effectiveness of enhanced cognitive behavior therapy in anorexia nervosa treatment. The study lasted for 60 weeks; patients attended assigned specialists during 40 weeks and were followed up to check the outcomes of the treatment after 60th week. The results of the study show that the majority of patients who completed treatment gained weight and maintained it after the treatment. The researchers concluded that CBT-E could be recommended for treating anorexia nervosa.

Summary The article «Enhanced Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Adults with Anorexia Nervosa: A UK–Italy Study» by Fairburn et al. (2013) researches new venue of treatment for anorexia nervosa. Enhanced cognitive behavior therapy (CBT-E) is already used for treatment bulimia nervosa and not-specified eating disorders; however, there are no studies that research the effectiveness of CBT-E in the context of anorexia nervosa treatment. This research applied CBT-E in treatment for anorexia nervosa and came to the conclusion that it was really effective due to positive immediate and long-term outcomes for patients.

The research focused on four main points presented by the percentage of people who were able to complete the outpatient treatment, the outcomes for those who completed it, sustainability of the outcomes and the predictors of successful completion of the treatment. In order to research all four points, the researchers recruited 99 participants diagnosed with anorexia nevrosa in special clinics in the UK (50 participants) and Italy (49 participants). All participants who met the requirements of the study were offered who additional sessions to get more information about the intervention.

The majority of patients were single females aged 20-30. CBT-E intervention lasted for 40 weeks and consisted of 40 one-to-one 50-minutes sessions. There were 7 specialists from the UK and 4 specialists from Italy who treated all patients recruited in the study. The study found that two thirds of all participants completed the outpatient treatment. The outcomes for patients were similar in both UK and Italian samples; the mean weight gain reached 7.47 kg. 60% of all patients increased their BMI up to 18.5. In order to study long-term outcomes of the treatment, all patients had a follow-up examination after the 60th week of the study.

The researchers state that there was a high level of compliance and the immediate results of CBT-E were well-maintained. Only a minority of patients required further treatment to cope with their eating disorder. Researchers did not find any statistically relevant demographic predictors of treatment completion and success; however, the outcomes of CBT-E in each case depended on the severity of the disorder. People with higher frequency of purging and weight concerns experienced fewer positive outcomes of CBT-E.

90% of participants who gained weight during the treatment experienced minimal concerns related to their weight. The results of the study proved that CBT-E was effective for treatment anorexia nervosa. Significant improvements and BMI and ability to maintain the immediate results of the treatment were the greatest indicators of study success. 2 samples involved in the study validate the results as both of them showed the same outcomes of the treatment, the rate of completion and the predictors of success.

Researchers suggested that some larger multi-site studies will be required to observe the effects on CBT-E treatment on anorexia nervosa patients. Longer follow-up period would be helpful to make solid conclusions about patients ability to maintain the outcomes of the treatment. The results of the study were not applicable to people with BMI less than15; further research could focus on groups of patients excluded in two samples involved in this study. References Fairburn, C. G., Cooper, Z., Doll, H. A., OConnor, M. E., Palmer, R. L., & Dalle Grave, R. (2013). Enhanced cognitive behaviour therapy for adults with anorexia nervosa: A UK–Italy study.

 Behaviour research and therapy, 51(1), R2-R8.