Established and emerging treatments for eating disorders

• Published in: Trends in molecular medicine 2024-04, Vol.30 (4), p.392-402
• Main Authors: Bryson, Callum, Douglas, Daire, Schmidt, Ulrike
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: eating disorders; metreleptin; neuromodulation; psychedelics; Review; treatment; virtual reality
• ISSN: 1471-4914; 1471-499X; 1471-499X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2024.02.009

Current eating disorder treatments include a range of psychological interventions, such as cognitive behavioural therapy, family therapy, or more structured specialised treatments such as Maudsley model of anorexia treatment for adults (MANTRA), and some off-label pharmacological interventions.Even with best available treatments, remission rates remain suboptimal and many patients go on to develop long-term treatment-refractory disorders. It is, therefore, crucial that novel treatments are developed, in attempts to significantly speed up and improve remission rates.Neuromodulation, virtual reality therapy, psychedelics, and leptin analogues are among emerging treatments that may help improve patient outcomes. Eating disorders (EDs) are common mental health conditions that carry exceedingly high morbidity and mortality rates. Evidence-based treatment options include a range of psychotherapies and some, mainly adjunctive, pharmacological interventions. However, around 20–30% of people fail to respond to the best available treatments and develop a persistent treatment-refractory illness. Novel treatments for these disorders are emerging, but their efficacy and clinical relevance need further investigation. In this review article, we first outline the evidence-base for the established treatments of the three ‘classical’ EDs [anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), and binge eating disorder (BED)]. We then review research on some of the most promising emerging treatment modalities, discussing the questions and challenges that remain. Eating disorders (EDs) are common mental health conditions that carry exceedingly high morbidity and mortality rates. Evidence-based treatment options include a range of psychotherapies and some, mainly adjunctive, pharmacological interventions. However, around 20–30% of people fail to respond to the best available treatments and develop a persistent treatment-refractory illness. Novel treatments for these disorders are emerging, but their efficacy and clinical relevance need further investigation. In this review article, we first outline the evidence-base for the established treatments of the three ‘classical’ EDs [anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), and binge eating disorder (BED)]. We then review research on some of the most promising emerging treatment modalities, discussing the questions and challenges that remain.