Emotion-focused treatments for anorexia nervosa: a systematic review of the literature

Margarita Sala; Amy Heard; Elizabeth A Black

doi:10.1007/s40519-016-0257-9

Emotion-focused treatments for anorexia nervosa: a systematic review of the literature

Eat Weight Disord. 2016 Jun;21(2):147-64. doi: 10.1007/s40519-016-0257-9. Epub 2016 Feb 17.

Authors

Margarita Sala¹, Amy Heard², Elizabeth A Black³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, 75275, USA. msala@smu.edu.
² Department of Psychology, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, USA.
³ Department of Psychology, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, 75275, USA.

PMID: 26886827
DOI: 10.1007/s40519-016-0257-9

Abstract

Purpose: The present review explores emotion-focused treatments for anorexia nervosa (AN).

Methods: We conducted a systematic literature search across key databases (PsychINFO, PubMed/Medline, and Web of Science) prior to September 2015. Twenty studies were selected for systematic review.

Results: The present review found initial evidence supporting the acceptability and feasibility of emotion-focused treatments for AN. Although preliminary results are promising, further controlled studies are necessary to establish the efficacy of emotion-focused treatments for AN.

Conclusions: Future controlled trials should compare emotion-focused treatments against each other and against other AN treatments. Future studies should also examine the mechanisms of action for the emotion-focused treatments and treatment moderators.

Keywords: Affect; Anorexia nervosa; Emotion; Treatment.

Publication types

Review
Systematic Review

MeSH terms

Anorexia Nervosa / psychology
Anorexia Nervosa / therapy*
Emotions*
Humans
Psychotherapy / methods*
Treatment Outcome