Psychosocial treatments for eating disorders.

Biological and developmental vulnerabilities, maladaptive learning experiences, and pathological family patterns may all contribute to the appearance and persistence of eating disorder (Bruch 1973, Crisp 1980, Garfinkel and Garner 1982). Psychosocial treatment approaches are currently the most important and effective intervention methods for anorexia nervosa (American Psychiatric Association 1993, Garner 1985) and are at least equivalent to medication approaches for bulimia nervosa as well.