Treatment of eating disorders: frequency of treatment use and perceived treatment efficacy of treatment modalities as reported by clinicians

Research on eating disorder treatment has shown conflicting results. Some theoretical frameworks place importance on using certain treatment modalities, whereas others find these same treatment modalities ineffective in treating individuals suffering from eating disorders (ED). For example, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been shown to be successful in the treatment of individuals suffering from Bulimia Nervosa; however, only 30% to 50% of patients with bulimia nervosa are fully recovered following CBT (Wilson, Grilo, & Vitousek, 2007). Research has focused on finding effective treatment interventions. Yet, there is little to no research on how often these treatment modalities are used across an outpatient eating disorder population. Many studies focus on treatment efficacy used with inpatient or residential programs, while they neglect the same research on outpatient care. The present study investigated whether there was a consensus with treatment interventions used by clinicians in an outpatient setting. This study aimed at determining which treatments are deemed effective by clinicians, and elucidates barriers clinicians encounter when working with an eating disordered population. In addition, this study added to the literature and provided clinical implications for future research. By identifying the barriers, frequency of use, and perceived effectiveness of treatment interventions, researchers can enhance the interaction between patient and provider, as well as continue the goal of designing effective treatments