Simultaneous Treatment Effective for OCD, Eating Disorders
According to a recent study, a multimodal treatment program that centered on a cognitive-behavioral approach using exposure and response prevention (ERP) can be effective in treating OCD comorbid with eating disorders.1 Simpson and colleagues report that this program significantly decreased OCD and eating disorder severity, as well as depression that often accompanies the disorders.
A diagnosis of OCD together with an eating disorder was present in study participants (n = 56) who lived in a residential treatment program. In addition to ERP focused both on OCD and the eating disorder, patients also received a supervised eating plan, medication management, and social support. Those with OCD and bulimia nervosa showed more improvement than those with OCD and anorexia nervosa. BMI significantly increased, primarily among those underweight at admission.
Reference
1. Simpson HB, Wetterneck CT, Cahill SP, et al. Treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder complicated by comorbid eating disorders. Cogn Behav Ther. 2013 Jan 15. [Epub ahead of print]
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