Expanding exposure-based interventions for eating disorders.

Abstract

Initial trials evaluating exposure-based interventions for eating disorders (EDs) in the 1980s demonstrated mixed results. Since that time, innovations in exposure therapy for anxiety disorders have yielded insights that can be used to refine and expand the approach to effectively target ED behaviors. This article provides a brief summary of relevant advances in exposure therapy for anxiety and outlines how these advances may be adapted and evaluated for use with ED samples. More specifically, we propose shifting to an inhibitory learning framework, considering treatment targets other than fear, and increasing variability in exposure techniques represent three important areas for future study. Overall, this article aims to provide professionals in the field with a framework for how to incorporate cutting-edge advances in exposure therapy into rigorous intervention research for EDs.