Comparing clinical and research treatments for eating disorders.

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluated whether there is a gap between research and practice in the treatment of eating disorders.

METHOD

Psychologists in clinical practice (N = 126) were surveyed regarding their treatment of a recent client with an eating disorder and a content analysis of published treatment outcome studies for eating disorders (N = 76) was conducted.

RESULTS

The treatment of eating disorders in clinical and research settings was found to differ significantly on several variables, including the types of therapeutic issues addressed and the frequency of comorbidity seen in clients. Logistic regression analyses found that the frequency with which psychologists read journal articles about eating disorders was significantly related to whether their clients received empirically validated treatment.

DISCUSSION

Psychologists in clinical practice are not using empirically validated treatments not only because of a lack of training but also because such treatments provide little guidance for dealing with the issues and comorbid problems that their clients with eating disorders often have.