Applying emotion-focused therapy to work with the “anorexic voice” within anorexia nervosa: A brief intervention.

Existent treatments for anorexia nervosa (AN) have produced dissatisfactory outcomes. Research suggests that many people with AN experience an internal “voice” is related to eating disorder symptoms and relapse. This study was designed consider the feasibility acceptability of a new emotion-focused therapy (EFT) AN, which work directly anorexic voice (AV; EFT-AV). Six adult clients diagnosed who were experiencing AV awaiting psychological treatment recruited from outpatient service. Informed by EFT previous research, intervention involved six weekly individual sessions focused on transforming experiences promoting self-compassion. Participants completed standardized measures symptoms, relating AV, illness beliefs, motivation change, hope recovery. also interviewed at conclusion ascertain their views its acceptability. Findings suggested good recruitment, retention, adherence, supported EFT-AV intervention. Thematic analysis participant interviews indicated acceptable tolerable. Future directions including potential value as adjunct existing therapies, are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved)