10‐session cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT-T) for eating disorders: a systematic review and narrative synthesis; &, “It’s a lot deeper than the way it looks”: an interpretative phenomenological analysis of body image for men with eating disorders

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Eating disorders are mental health conditions which are complex and pose significant risks to those experiencing them. Understanding eating disorders and investigating new treatments is considered greatly important for the research literature in order to inform clinical practice.

AIMS: The thesis is divided into two parts. The first is a systematic review and narrative synthesis of the existing literature on a relatively new and brief ten-session cognitive behavioural therapy for eating disorders for people who are not underweight, CBT-T. The second is a qualitative study on how men with eating disorders experience body image.

METHOD: The systematic review synthesised results of eight published articles on CBT-T from five databases. The qualitative study used semi-structured interviews and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis to understand the experiences of body image of ten men with eating disorders.

RESULTS: The systematic review demonstrated that CBT-T had an effect on a range of outcomes, including eating disorder psychopathology, disordered eating behaviours, psychosocial impairment, depression and anxiety. However, issues with study quality were found. Findings from the qualitative study highlighted how body image was experienced by men with eating disorders intrapersonally, interpersonally and systemically.

CONCLUSION: The systematic review highlighted that CBT-T is a promising treatment for those with non-underweight eating disorders, yet more research of higher methodological quality is needed before services should offer CBT-T as a treatment. The qualitative study indicates that body image is a complex and multi-faceted experience for men with eating disorders. The findings provide several research and clinical implications to improve research and practice relevant for men with eating disorders.