Evaluation of a Twenty-session Cognitive-behavioral Therapy With Anorexia Nervosa (CBT-20-AN) Among Adults (18+)

Who can take part

• Eligible patients must meet DSM-5 criteria for anorexia nervosa. This diagnosis can be conferred via the EDE 17.0D
• Age > 18
• Patients must be able to provide informed consent and comply with the study procedures
• Patients must be able to complete computer-based self-report questionnaires with adequate accommodation, if necessary
• Patients must have a primary care physician, Adolescent Medicine physician, or consulting physician with eating disorder expertise at Massachusetts General Hospital/Massachusetts General Brigham network who can provide ongoing medical monitoring while the patient takes part in the study

Who cannot take part

• Any condition that, after the baseline evaluation, is determined to preclude treatment with CBT
• Concurrent psychotherapy. Patients must be willing to take a pause from any ongoing psychotherapy in order to focus on CBT-AN-20, which is in alignment with standard clinical care
• Active untreated and unstable bipolar disorder (i.e. stable bipolar disorder under care of a psychiatrist is allowed)
• Patients will be excluded if they exhibit:
• BMI < 15, obtained via patient medical chart or from study 2023P000469 or 2018P002915
• HR <55 or >100, obtained via patient medical chart or from study 2023P000469 or 2018P002915
• Systolic BP (SBP and DBP) <80 or >160, obtained via patient medical chart or from study 2023P000469 or 2018P002915
• Temperature < 96.5 F, obtained via patient medical chart or from study 2023P000469 or 2018P002915
• Not eating food by mouth and/or any tube feeding, per EDE
• Purging > 4x/week, per EDE
• Active suicidality (suicidal ideation with intent or plan) to the point that more intensive treatment (i.e. acute hospitalization) is required
• Psychosis
• Intellectual disability
• Symptoms that are not appropriate for outpatient level of care and therefore require a higher level of care (i.e. BMI <15 or purging more than 4x/week)
• Homicidal ideation
• Inability to speak English well enough to engage in CBT