Early improvement in eating attitudes during cognitive behavioural therapy for eating disorders: the impact of personality disorder cognitions.
BACKGROUND
The personality disorders are commonly comorbid with the eating disorders. Personality disorder pathology is often suggested to impair the treatment of axis 1 disorders, including the eating disorders.


OBJECTIVE
This study examined whether personality disorder cognitions reduce the impact of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for eating disorders, in terms of treatment dropout and change in eating disorder attitudes in the early stages of treatment.


METHODS
Participants were individuals with a diagnosed eating disorder, presenting for individual outpatient CBT. They completed measures of personality disorder cognitions and eating disorder attitudes at sessions one and six of CBT. Drop-out rates prior to session six were recorded.


RESULTS
CBT had a relatively rapid onset of action, with a significant reduction in eating disorder attitudes over the first six sessions. Eating disorder attitudes were most strongly associated with cognitions related to anxiety-based personality disorders (avoidant, obsessive-compulsive and dependent). Individuals who dropped out of treatment prematurely had significantly higher levels of dependent personality disorder cognitions than those who remained in treatment. For those who remained in treatment, higher levels of avoidant, histrionic and borderline personality disorder cognitions were associated with a greater change in global eating disorder attitudes.


CONCLUSIONS
CBT's action and retention of patients might be improved by consideration of such personality disorder cognitions when formulating and treating the eating disorders.
Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, UK.
Emma C
EC
Park
University of Sheffield, UK.
Glenn
G
Waller
University of East London, UK.
Kenneth
K
Gannon
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001364:Awareness; D056912:Binge-Eating Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003469:Culture; D004435:Eating; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult