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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Eating Disorders: Rationale and Literature Review

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Abstract

Empirical studies using Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and its components to treat eating disorders (EDs) were reviewed. Evidence suggests that emotional avoidance is a major component in the onset and maintenance of EDs. Acceptance and commitment therapy targets emotional avoidance and control strategies with six core processes. These core processes have been applied to EDs and demonstrated improvement in subjects’ functioning and reduction in disordered eating. There are several advantages of using ACT for treating EDs: ACT fundamentally equalizes the therapeutic relationship; experiential techniques in ACT may facilitate lasting treatment gains; ACT navigates the ego-syntonic nature of EDs; the ACT conceptualization based on experiential avoidance and cognitive rigidity in EDs is consistent with current literature. The six core processes of ACT can be further modified to fit the challenges of treating EDs. Specifically, concerns about client motivation for treatment can be addressed by emphasizing creative hopelessness and a values construction process earlier in treatment.

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  1. The Department of Psychological and Quantitative Foundations, University of Iowa College of Education, 361 Lindquist Center, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA

    Christopher F. Manlick, Sam V. Cochran & Jerrod Koon

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  1. Christopher F. Manlick
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  2. Sam V. Cochran
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Correspondence to Christopher F. Manlick.

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Manlick, C.F., Cochran, S.V. & Koon, J. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Eating Disorders: Rationale and Literature Review. J Contemp Psychother 43, 115–122 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10879-012-9223-7

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