Enhanced cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT-E) for severe and extreme anorexia nervosa in an outpatient eating disorder unit at a public hospital: a quality-assessment study
Stein Frostad, Simona Calugi, Caroline B N Engen, Riccardo Dalle Grave, Stein Frostad, Simona Calugi, Caroline B N Engen, Riccardo Dalle Grave
Abstract
Background: The aim of this quality-assessment study was to determine the outcome of patients with severe and extreme anorexia nervosa (AN) in a real-world outpatient setting.
Methods: Twenty-one adults with AN and a body mass index (BMI) of < 16 were recruited from consecutive referrals to an outpatient clinic at a public hospital in Western Norway. All enrolled patients were provided with enhanced cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT-E) to treat their AN, commencing between January 2013 and December 2016. Their BMI was recorded at baseline, at the end of CBT-E and 1 year after the end of treatment.
Results: Ten patients completed the CBT-E treatment and achieved a large weight gain with the change remaining stable at follow-up. Eleven patients did not complete the treatment but had a significant increase in BMI at the premature end of treatment. One year after end of therapy 14/21 (66.7%) of the patients had BMI above 18.5 kg/m2. No severe complications were observed during therapy.
Conclusions: Although 52.4% of the patients did not complete outpatient CBT-E, the findings of this quality-assessment study support previous findings indicating that CBT-E may represent a valid alternative to inpatient treatment in patients with severe and extreme AN.
Keywords: Adults; Cognitive behaviour therapy; Outpatient; Severe and extreme anorexia nervosa.
Conflict of interest statement
The authors report no competing interests.
© 2021. The Author(s).
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Source: PubMed