Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Eating Disorders

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a highly individualized and flexible “transdiagnostic” evidence-based treatment for all eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and other similar states​. It was initially developed as an outpatient treatment for adults, but it has also been adapted for younger people and intensive settings of care. This chapter describes the core principles of CBT for eating disorders (CBT-ED) and the theory of change on which it is based. It reviews the data from the studies that established the efficacy of CBT as an evidence-based treatment for anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorders. It also provides an in-depth overview of the core principles and characteristics of the transdiagnostic model of CBT-ED and a discussion of limitations and future directions.