This book describes the application of cognitive behavioural principles to patients with a wide range of eating disorders - it covers those with straightforward problems and those with more complex conditions or co-morbid states. The book takes a highly pragmatic view. It is based on the published evidence, but stresses the importance of individualized, principle-based clinical work. It describes the techniques within the widest clinical context, for use across the age range and from referral to discharge. Throughout the text, the links between theory and practice are highlighted in order to stress the importance of the flexible application of skills to each new situation. Case studies and sample dialogs are employed to demonstrate the principles in action and the book concludes with a set of useful handouts for patients and other tools. This book will be essential reading for all those working with eating-disordered patients including psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses, counsellors, dieticians, and occupational therapists.

Background: Clinicians working in the eating disorders require a good working knowledge of basic nutrition. As different professional groups are trained in this knowledge to different degrees, it is not possible to assume that all clinicians working with the eating disorders have an equivalent knowledge base. The aim of this study is to determine the nutritional knowledge of different groups of professionals working with the eating disorders. Method: The participants were 65 clinicians (dietitians, nurses, clinical psychologists, psychiatrists) working with the eating disorders and a group of 23 non-clinicians. All participants completed a standardised measure of knowledge of nutritional content of a range of foodstuffs, plus a brief form of the Eating Disorders Inventory (EDI-2). Results: Dietitians had the highest level of knowledge regarding carbohydrate, protein and fat, but were no different to the other groups in their knowledge of fibre content. The psychiatrists were the next best informed. The clinical psychologists and nurses were no better than the lay group. Levels of knowledge about nutrition were unrelated to most personal characteristics, though there were some links to the clinician's own eating attitudes. Conclusions: Given the central role of nutrition in treating the eating disorders, it is clearly important that teams include professionals with nutritional knowledge. These findings indicate that simple experience in the field is not sufficient to ensure such knowledge, and that specialised dietitians are more likely to be able to provide the necessary treatment resource. Therefore, multidisciplinary teams should include specialist dietetic input.

Do you or does someone you know, suffer from an eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa or a less typical set of symptoms? The most effective, evidence-based treatment for adults with eating disorders is cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT). This book presents a highly effective self-help CBT programme for all eating disorders, in an accessible format. It teaches skills to sufferers and carers alike. This book is relevant to any sufferer, if: • You are not yet sure about whether to seek help • You are not sure where to find help • Your family doctor or others recommend that you try a self-help approach • You are waiting for therapy with a clinician, and want to get the best possible start to beating your eating disorder

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