Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy for Anorexia Nervosa

A Clinician’s Guide to CBT-AN-20

Glenn Waller, Kamryn T. Eddy, Charlotte L. Rose, Jennifer J. Thomas, Hannah M. Turner, Tracey D. Wade

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2025
• Topic: Psychology
• eBook ISBN:
  9781040667354
• Subtopic: Abnormal Psychology
• Index: Psychology

This book presents CBT-AN-20, a newly developed briefer form of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) for anorexia nervosa, designed to treat individuals in 20 sessions, helping clinicians to offer effective therapy to more patients and enabling patients to move more quickly towards recovery.

This manual addresses the key CBT skills needed to deliver effective CBT-AN-20. It uses a combination of psychoeducation, nutrition, exposure therapy, and behavioural experiments to overcome starvation and to support essential weight gain/stability. It then details the skills needed to work with emotional factors and with body image issues. Importantly, it also stresses the meta-competences needed to work with anorexia nervosa – such as early change, motivational work, engaging with the "anorexic voice", and maintaining a working alliance that stresses change. Accompanying the text is a range of useful web-based materials to support the clinician reading the manual. These include checklists, psychoeducation materials, measures, and videos of skills in action.

CBT-AN-20's pragmatic structure supports its delivery by both experienced therapists and those newer to the field who are practising under expert supervision. This book is a "must read" for all levels of practitioners from all disciplines who work with eating disorders.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Endorsements
• Half-Title
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Acknowledgements
• Foreword
• 1 Introduction
• 2 Overview of anorexia nervosa
• 3 Meta-competences in CBT-AN-20
• 4 Introduction to the competences and skills needed for CBT-AN-20
• 5 Assessment of the patient and their needs
• 6 Outline of CBT-AN-20
• 7 Phase 1 (Sessions 1–19): Dietary change for weight regain and exposure therapy
• 8 Phase 2 (Sessions 10–19): Behavioural experiments to challenge cognitions about food and uncontrollability of weight gain
• 9 Phase 3 (Sessions 12–19): Emotional and interpersonal triggers and maintenance
• 10 Phase 4 (Sessions 12–20): Body image
• 11 Phase 5 (Sessions 18–20 and beyond): Ending and relapse prevention
• 12 Adaptations of CBT-AN-20
• 13 Final considerations for current and future therapists
• 14 Summary and future directions
• Appendices
• References
• Index