Relapse Prevention for Eating Disorders

This chapter focuses primarily on the research and practice of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and relapse prevention (RP) for Bulimia Nervosa (BN) and Binge Eating Disorder (BED). Theory-driven, manual-based CBT is the treatment of choice for both BN and BED. CBT for BN and BED generally consists of approximately 20 weekly sessions. The core elements of CBT for BN and BED include creating a written self-monitoring record of all food consumed including during binges, weighing weekly, and planning meal times so as to consume three meals and two to three snacks, separated by no more than three to four hours. It is found that RP is prepared for throughout CBT since, while striving for abstinence from binge eating, patients often succumb and binge, and have the chance to practice coping with a lapse. Identifying the predictors of relapse can help researchers determine the elements to target to prevent relapse more effectively. It is found that mindfulness could potentially help patients with stress management, eating with greater awareness and satisfaction, and coping with negative affect and urges to binge.