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Running head: EFFECTIVENESS OF COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY IN

ANOREXIA NERVOSA

The Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Anorexia Nervosa Title Page:

Following the American Psychological Association’s Guidelines

Alliah A. Cachola

Batangas State University-ARASOF

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EFFECTIVENESS OF COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY IN ANOREXIA NERVOSA

Abstract

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EFFECTIVENESS OF COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY IN ANOREXIA NERVOSA
In individual therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy is used for adults where in the main

goal is to change the eating patterns and behaviors in to normal condition in supporting weight

gain and to help change the distorted beliefs and thoughts of a person about eating restrictively.

[ CITATION May18 \l 13321 ]

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) focuses on redirecting the way of the person thinks

and behaves which can change their perception about food and body weight, also to develop

effective ways of dealing to stressful or difficult situations.

CBT is used for people with eating disorders who have been diagnosed with mental

disorders like anxiety, panic, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder etc. It has specific and

research proven methods of dealing with clients that have such conditions by using various

techniques that are appropriate for them. Clients who want to work together with the therapist in

actively changing their problems will refer in CBT. It talks about how a person think of his or

her self, the world and other people, what affects the client’s thoughts and feelings and how

he/she responds. In CBT, it helps to change how you think (cognitive) and how you act

(behavior). Cognitive Behavioral Therapy involves doing the therapy individually or with a

group of people, meeting with the therapist for 5 to 20 weekly sessions each lasting for 1 hour,

deciding with the therapist on what will be the focus of change. It also includes sharing past and

present experiences about life, collaborative work with therapist to see how the client will utilize

the therapy in between sessions, and reflecting on own thoughts, feelings and behavior to search

how they are connected in the difficulties and how to bring change in the way of thinking and

responding.

Cognitive Analytical Therapy (CAT) works more interpersonally about the important and

identified issues by having a connection between the client and clinician where they describe the
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EFFECTIVENESS OF COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY IN ANOREXIA NERVOSA
issues that affects the client, understand the link of past relationships and experiences. They also

use the relationship between them to reflect and create awareness about change in and out of the

session, and focus on the changes that the client wants to make about what makes them feel

good. It is a safe and clinically effective therapy for people who want to work through the issues

that cause their disorder. To bring change, CAT offers a way of thinking about self in a different

way, finding the root of the problems and difficulties, and how they affect with everyday life,

identifying the patterns of decisions and actions that contribute to difficulties and searching how

to address them individually, understanding the importance of the relationships in life. This

therapy is time-limited, 16 to 24 sessions each lasting for 50 to 60 minutes. The first few sessions

are the reformulation phase wherein the client can tell the therapist about present experiences,

history, and problems. The client is encouraged to identify the things that give him or her

happiness and satisfaction. In CAT, the client must answer a questionnaire called The

Psychotherapy File, which divides the difficulties that the client experiences into Traps,

Dilemmas, Snags, and Unstable States of Mind. The client must do a Reformulation Letter that

includes his/her understanding of the experiences shared with the therapist about the whole

process of the therapy.

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EFFECTIVENESS OF COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY IN ANOREXIA NERVOSA

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2018, February 20). Retrieved March

11, 2020, from MayoClinic.org: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anorexia-

nervosa/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353597

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anorexia-nervosa/diagnosis-treatment/drc-

20353597

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/267432#treatment-and-recovery

https://www.acat.me.uk/page/what+is+the+difference+between+cat+and+cbt