“Third wave”cognitive-behavioural therapy for eating disorders

Abstract

According to International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10) criteria, the following are recognised as eating disorders: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, atypical forms of these two disorders, binge-eating disorder and vomiting associated with other psychological disturbances. Apart from monitoring health condition, refeeding, education of patient and family, sometimes pharmacotherapy or attending a self-help programme or psychotherapy plays an important role during the curing of eating disorders. Treatment recommendations indicate efficacy of the cognitive-behavioural therapy - especially among bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder patients. Fairburn's transdiagnostic model is applicative here. However, it has limited efficacy for anorexia nervosa patients and patients with comorbid diagnosis or chronicity. In this article therapeutic suggestions of “third wave” cognitive-behavioural therapy, which got promising results in pilot studies, are presented. Consecutively, dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and schema therapy (ST) are discussed. Reasons for applying the above-mentioned interventions as methods of treatment of eating disorders are described briefly, and some examples of treatment protocols and information about their efficacy are given. On the basis of this review, it is necessary to conduct further research on efficacy of particular interventions. Certainly, we should keep in mind individual problem conceptualisation, which shows the most important issues and helps in choosing the most effective intervention every time.