What Are the Different Types of Eating Disorder Therapy?
Several different types of eating disorder therapy may be used in patients with mild to severe eating disorder behaviors and symptoms. The most common types of therapy include cognitive behavioral therapy, family therapy, interpersonal therapy, and psychoeducation. Each of these methods forces patients to challenge thought patterns and behaviors, as well as uncover the issues that led to the eating disorder in the first place. For moderate to severe eating disorders, cognitive behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy are thought to be the most effective. The two main kinds of eating disorders are bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa. Bulimia is trademarked by binge eating followed by purging, or self-induced regurgitation, so that no food is digested. Anorexia is characterized by a patient simply not eating or not eating nearly enough. Both conditions can have severe or even life-threatening consequences including heart and other organ failure.
