Cognitive remediation therapy for anorexia nervosa as a rolling group intervention: Data from a longitudinal study in an eating disorders specialized inpatient unit. (12th June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Meneguzzo, Paolo; Tenconi, Elena; Todisco, Patrizia; Favaro, Angela
• Is Part Of: European eating disorders review. Volume 29:Number 5(2021)
• Page Start: 770
• Page End: 782
• Publication Date: 2021-06-12
• Subjects: anorexia nervosa -- cognitive remediation therapy -- group therapy -- inpatient treatment -- rehabilitation; Eating disorders -- Periodicals; 616.8526
• DOI: 10.1002/erv.2848
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1072-4133

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: Cognitive remediation therapy (CRT) has been proposed as an add‐on treatment approach that could increase the engagement in treatment of anorexia nervosa (AN) patients and reduce maintaining factors, but prior studies have evaluated CRT in individual and group settings, difficult protocols for rehabilitation settings. Our aim is to evaluate the CRT rolling protocol implementation in an inpatient specialised unit. Methods: A historical longitudinal controlled study was designed to include 31 AN patients for the CRT program, and 28 AN patients treated as usual. The CRT rolling group was implemented in a multidisciplinary inpatient rehabilitation ward with both adolescent and adult patients and an 8‐weeks protocol. To evaluate the treatment implementation effect, different self‐administered questionnaires were used. Results: The study found greater improvements of the CRT group in clinical symptomatology ( p = 0.039), flexibility ( p = 0.003), self‐confidence about the ability to change ( p < 0.001), and less short‐term focus ( p < 0.001), with no differences between restrictive and binge‐purging patients. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that CRT rolling group protocol is feasible in an inpatient treatment setting and may improve a rehabilitation program's outcome. Our results have shown how CRT can influence cognitive styles considered AN maintenance factors, positively affecting both restrictive and binge‐purge type. Key Points: Cognitive remediation therapy (CRT) could be implemented in an inpatient setting with a rolling protocol CRT improves flexibility, drive to change, and therapy engagement No differences between restrictive or binge/purge subgroups Both adolescent and adult patients improved their cognitive styles