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Anorexia nervosa: Valued and visible. A cognitive‐interpersonal maintenance model and its implications for research and practice
Author(s) -
Schmidt Ulrike,
Treasure Janet
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
british journal of clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.479
H-Index - 92
eISSN - 2044-8260
pISSN - 0144-6657
DOI - 10.1348/014466505x53902
Subject(s) - psychology , anorexia nervosa , perfectionism (psychology) , interpersonal communication , cognition , interpersonal relationship , psychotherapist , developmental psychology , experiential learning , clinical psychology , eating disorders , social psychology , psychiatry , mathematics education
Anorexia nervosa (AN) is highly valued by people with the disorder. It is also a highly visible disorder, evoking intense emotional responses from others, particularly those closest to the person. A maintenance model of restricting anorexia nervosa, combining intra‐ and interpersonal factors is proposed. Four main maintaining factors (perfectionism/cognitive rigidity, experiential avoidance, pro‐anorectic beliefs, response of close others) are suggested and the evidence supporting these is examined. These factors need to be integrated with what is known about starvation‐related maintenance factors. This model departs from other models of AN in that it does not emphasize the role of weight and shape‐related factors in the maintenance of AN; that is, it is culture‐free. Implications for clinical practice and research are discussed.