Cognitive behavioral therapy more effective than psychoanalysis

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy More Effective Than Psychoanalysis American Journal of Psychiatry has published a new study touting the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) in the treatment of bulimia nervosa. The study tracked 70 patients who were randomly assigned to either psychoanalytic psychotherapy or enhanced CBT. The study tracked the patients for 2 years and at the end discovered that 44 percent of the CBT group had stopped binge eating and purging compared to 15 percent effectiveness in the psychotherapy group.

By the end of both treatments, substantial improvements in eating disorder features and general psychopathology were observed, but in general these changes took place more rapidly in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an action-oriented form of psychosocial therapy that assumes that maladaptive, or faulty, thinking patterns cause maladaptive behavior and "negative" emotions. (Maladaptive behavior is behavior that is counter-productive or interferes with everyday living.) Cognitive Behavioral Therapy treatment focuses on changing an individual's thoughts (cognitive patterns) in order to change his or her behavior and emotional state.

The study claims that the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can be attributed to: • It directly addresses overvaluation of body shape and weight, dietary restriction, and sensitivity to stressors.

• Uses patient specific treatment within a general framework.

• Provides a credible account of the patient’s problem and provides feedback of the changes that need to be made to overcome their eating disorder.

• Uses self-monitoring analysis of the processes that maintain the patient’s eating disorder.

• Help patients learn to identify and correct relapse threats.

The authors concluded that the study, “provides one of the clearest examples of the superiority of one well-implemented psychological treatment over another.” They also claimed that the study supports the efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as “the evidence-based treatment of choice for bulimia nervosa.”

Remuda Ranch at The Meadows effectively utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and other treatments in our world-reknowned eating disorder treatment program. For more information on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy click here. For additional information about the treatment of eating disorders, please call to speak to a Counselor at 866-332-1140 and we will contact you with the information you need.