Couple-Based Interventions for Adults With Eating Disorders

Abstract

A significant number of adults with eating disorders fail to achieve relief from the disorder, with many dropping out from treatment or relapsing. Standard treatment remains individual therapy despite partners being negatively affected and typically wanting to help in an effective and loving way. We propose that couple-based interventions, which leverage the support of a partner and the relationship in treatment, may improve outcome and recovery rates for adults with eating disorders. In this paper, we survey the empirical literature supporting the treatment of adults in a couple context and describe our existing and emerging couple-based interventions for eating disorders.

A theoretical review of interpersonal emotion regulation in eating disorders: enhancing knowledge by bridging interpersonal and affective dysfunction

“…There are many unanswered questions about the most effective ways for people to support the affected person in managing emotions with the goal of ED recovery, such as which strategies must be disrupted to reduce ED behaviors and how the supportive person can best intervene when problematic IER is occurring. This is of particular relevance to treatments such as, but not limited to, family-based therapy [46], Maudsley Model of Anorexia Nervosa Treatment for Adults (MANTRA) [86], and Uniting Couples in the treatment of Anorexia Nervosa [87][88][89], which utilize the relationship between the recovering individual and their caregivers, family members, or other supports to facilitate recovery. In addition, treatments utilizing the cognitive interpersonal model of anorexia nervosa have shown success targeting problematic caregiver behaviors, such as accommodation [90].…”

The Science Behind the Academy for Eating Disorders' Nine Truths About Eating Disorders

“…Partners can be an asset in treatment of adults because they typically express a strong desire to help yet fear that anything they do or say will inadvertently exacerbate the situation (Treasure & Nazar, ). Couple‐based interventions for eating disorders leverage the power of relationships and engage the partner in the recovery process (Bulik, Baucom, Kirby, & Pisetsky, ; Kirby, Runfola, Fischer, Baucom, & Bulik, ; Schmidt et al, ). Initial results of couple‐based interventions are promising and suggest that close support from a family member enhances treatment regardless of patient age.…”

Cognitive‐Behavioral Couple Therapies: Review of the Evidence for the Treatment of Relationship Distress, Psychopathology, and Chronic Health Conditions

“…For example, Kirby and Baucom (2007) An open trial of a couple-based intervention for anorexia nervosa (integrating all three forms of couple-based interventions) has shown very promising results both in terms of symptom improvement and relationship satisfaction (Bulik, Baucom, Kirby, & Pisetsky, 2011Fischer et al, 2015), and an RCT comparing this intervention to individual CBT for anorexia nervosa is currently under way. In addition, interventions for binge eating disorder and bulimia nervosa currently are being developed and evaluated (Kirby, Runfola, Fischer, Baucom, & Bulik, 2015).…”