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Using an OCD formulation in the treatment of anorexia nervosa: a useful way to understand the illness?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 September 2013

Paul E. Jenkins
Paul E. Jenkins*
Affiliation:
Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, UK
*
*Address for correspondence: Dr P. E. Jenkins, Cotswold House Eating Disorders Service, Warneford Hospital, Warneford Lane, Headington, Oxford OX3 7JX, UK (email: pej106@gmail.com).
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Abstract

Anorexia nervosa (AN) and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) have been shown to have a number of commonalities, such as genetics, neurobiology, and symptoms. Approaches to treatment of AN have recently been described that take such findings into account, extending interventions recommended for obsessive compulsive and anxiety disorders to AN. The current paper aims to outline a formulation model of AN in adults, derived from the literature on OCD, and introduce this topic as a fruitful area to build on existing treatment techniques, and to prompt further discussion of such techniques. A formulation model is described, followed by a discussion of how this might be applied to AN, using examples from clinical practice. Potential benefits and difficulties are discussed. A formulation model is suggested that can easily be adapted to AN, complementing existing models in eating disorders.

Keywords

Anorexia nervosaformulationobsessive compulsive disordertherapy
Type
Practice article
Information
the Cognitive Behaviour Therapist , Volume 6 , 2013 , e8
Copyright
Copyright © British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 2013 

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References

Recommended follow-up reading

Pallister, E, Waller, G (2008). Anxiety in the eating disorders: understanding the overlap. Clinical Psychology Review 28, 366–386.Google Scholar
Steinglass, J, Sysko, R, Glasofer, D, Albano, AM, Simpson, HB, Walsh, BT (2011). Rationale for the application of exposure and response prevention to the treatment of anorexia nervosa. International Journal of Eating Disorders 44, 134–141.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

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