Introduction to Emerging Areas in the Treatment of Eating Disorders

There is an impetus for developing new knowledge and clinical practices in the field of eating disorders. Firstly, this is because even the most highly recommended evidence-based treatments do not work for everybody and recovery rates remain unsatisfactory, particularly for anorexia nervosa, one of the most harmful psychiatric disorders. Secondly, a greater insight into the biological and brain correlates of these disorders has been gained, which has determined an increased mechanistic understanding of disease maintenance and treatment. The complexity of eating disorders is becoming more and more apparent, which has led to the proposal that standard treatments might require the integration of modules addressing different facets of the illness, including aspects related to comorbid physical conditions (e.g., obesity, diabetes, autoimmune gastrointestinal disorders), neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., autism spectrum disorder), psychiatric illnesses (e.g., depression, anxiety), and trauma. Similarly, patients at different stages of the illness and living in different parts of the world might require adaptations of mainstream treatments which take into account the neurobiological and psychological changes due to symptom progression and individuals’ preferences and values. Finally, the world is changing, with greater exposure to the Cyberspace, which is redefining identities and social relationships through challenges (e.g., social comparison, loneliness, and isolation) and opportunities (e.g., more connection and accessibility to treatment). Patient’s involvement is becoming increasingly important in shaping new knowledge and treatment options, which calls for novel ethical considerations. In this section of “Eating Disorders: An International Perspective,” the editors have collected a number of chapters covering some of the emerging areas in the treatment of eating disorders.