Uniting Couples (in the treatment of) Anorexia Nervosa (UCAN).
OBJECTIVE
To describe the development of a novel couple-based cognitive-behavioral intervention for adult anorexia nervosa (AN) called Uniting Couples (in the treatment of) Anorexia Nervosa (UCAN).


METHODS
We review the state of the science for the treatment of adult AN, the nature of relationships in AN, our model of couple functioning in AN, and the development of the UCAN intervention.


RESULTS
We present the UCAN treatment for patients with AN and their partners and discuss important considerations in the delivery of the intervention.


CONCLUSIONS
With further evaluation, we expect that UCAN will emerge to be an effective, acceptable, disseminable, and developmentally tailored intervention that will serve to improve both core AN pathology as well as couple functioning.
Bulik
Cynthia M
CM
Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, 101 Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. cbulik@med.unc.edu
Baucom
Donald H
DH
Kirby
Jennifer S
JS
Pisetsky
Emily
E
D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003142:Communication; D019546:Couples Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D019529:Sexuality