The evidence for CBT-T

Below are a set of papers that give evidence for CBT-T. They include evidence for effectiveness based on individual therapy, group therapy, work online (into work environments), and work with adolescents and young adults.

Most are open access, so you can get them via the DOI links with each paper. However, if any of the team's papers are not available in that way then you can contact us via ResearchGate if you would like to view them.

• Waller, G., Tatham, M., Turner, H., Mountford, V. A., Bennetts, A., Bramwell, K., Dodd, J., & Ingram, L. (2018). A 10-session cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT-T) for eating disorders: Outcomes from a case series of nonunderweight adult patients. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 51(3), 262–269. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.22837

• Pellizzer, M. L., Waller, G., & Wade, T. D. (2018). Body image flexibility: A predictor and moderator of outcome in transdiagnostic outpatient eating disorder treatment. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 51(4), 368–372. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.22842

• Pellizzer, M., Waller, G. and Wade, T. D. (2019). Ten-session cognitive behaviour therapy for eating disorders: Outcomes from a pragmatic pilot study of Australian non-underweight patients. Clinical Psychologist, 23(2), 124-132. https://doi.org/10.1111/cp.12170 

• Pellizzer, M. L., Waller, G., & Wade, T. D. (2019). A pragmatic effectiveness study of 10-session cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT-T) for eating disorders: Targeting barriers to treatment provision. European Eating Disorders Review, 27(5), 557–570. https://doi.org/10.1002/erv.2684

• Hoskins, J. I., Blood, L., Stokes, H. R., Tatham, M., Waller, G., & Turner, H. (2019). Patients' experiences of brief cognitive behavioral therapy for eating disorders: A qualitative investigation. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 52(5), 530–537. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.23039

• Cibich, M., & Wade, T. D. (2019). Treating bulimia nervosa in the context of gender dysphoria using 10-session cognitive behavior therapy. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 52(5), 602–606. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.23068

• Tatham, M., Hewitt, C., & Waller, G. (2020). Outcomes of brief and enhanced cognitive-behavioural therapy for adults with non-underweight eating disorders: A non-randomized comparison. European Eating Disorders Review, 28(6), 701–708. https://doi.org/10.1002/erv.2765

• Rose, C., Bakopoulou, I., & Novak, T. (2021). A case series of CBT-T in routine clinical practice. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 54(8), 1549–1554. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.23566

• Wade, T. D., Ghan, C., & Waller, G. (2021). A randomized controlled trial of two 10-session cognitive behaviour therapies for eating disorders: An exploratory investigation of which approach works best for whom. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 146, 103962. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2021.103962

• Moore, E., & Waller, G. (2023). Brief group cognitive-behavioral therapy for bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder: A pilot study of feasibility and acceptability. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 56(6), 1228–1232. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.23935

• Toro, C. T., Payne, A., Jackson, T., Russell, S., Daly, G., Waller, G., & Meyer, C. (2023). Evidence for feasibility of implementing online brief cognitive-behavioral therapy for eating disorder pathology in the workplace. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 56(6), 1254–1268. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.23961

• Keegan, E., & Wade, T. D. (2023). The role of readiness and confidence to change in the treatment of atypical anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. The International journal of eating disorders, 10.1002/eat.23918. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.23918

• Hart, M., Hirneth, S., Mendelson, J., Jenkins, L., Pursey, K., & Waller, G. (2024). Brief cognitive behavioural therapy for eating disorders symptomatology among a mixed sample of adolescents and young adults in primary care: A non-randomised feasibility and pilot study. European Eating Disorders Review, 10.1002/erv.3075. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1002/erv.3075

• Keegan, E., Waller, G., Tchanturia, K., & Wade, T. D. (2024). The potential value of brief waitlist interventions in enhancing treatment retention and outcomes: a randomised controlled trial. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, 53(6), 608–620. https://doi.org/10.1080/16506073.2024.2351867

• Arai, M., Tonta, K. E., Erceg-Hurn, D. M., Raykos, B. C., Waller, G., & McEvoy, P. M. (2024). Eating-Specific Interpersonal Difficulties: Changes and Impacts on Outcomes During Ten-Session Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Eating Disorders (CBT-T). International Journal of Eating Disorders, 10.1002/eat.24336. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.24336

• Allen, K. L., Courtney, L., Croft, P., Hyam, L., Mills, R., Richards, K., Ahmed, M., & Schmidt, U. (2024). Programme-Led and Focused Interventions for Recent Onset Binge/Purge Eating Disorders: Use and Outcomes in the First Episode Rapid Early Intervention for Eating Disorders (FREED) Network. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 10.1002/eat.24343. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.24343

• Gatley, D., Millar-Sarahs, V., Brown, A., Matcham, F., & Brooks, C. P. (2024). Understanding Early Treatment Response in Brief CBT for Nonunderweight Eating Disorders: A Mixed Methods Study. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 10.1002/eat.24350. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.24350

The following are reviews, based on the above papers. The Keegan one is probably easier to generalise from, as it includes a meta-analytic summary of a range of outcomes:

• Keegan, E., Glenn Waller, G., & Wade, T. D. (2022). A systematic review and meta-analysis of a 10-session cognitive behavioural therapy for non-underweight eating disorders, Clinical Psychologist, 26(3), 241-254, DOI: 10.1080/13284207.2022.2075257

• Paphiti, A., & Newman, E. (2023) 10‐session Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT-T) for Eating Disorders: A Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis. International Journal of Cognitive Therapy, 16, 646–681. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41811-023-00184-y

This paper details the development and psychometrics of the ED-15 measure, which we developed so that there was a weekly monitoring tool that clinicians could use (see Resources for a copy):

• Tatham, M., Turner, H., Mountford, V. A., Tritt, A., Dyas, R., & Waller, G. (2015). Development, psychometric properties and preliminary clinical validation of a brief, session-by-session measure of eating disorder cognitions and behaviors: The ED-15. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 48(7), 1005–1015. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.22430

The following two papers detail versions of the ED-15 for young people and caregivers, developed by Erin Accurso:

• Accurso, E. C., & Waller, G. (2021). A brief session-by-session measure of eating disorder psychopathology for children and adolescents: Development and psychometric properties of the Eating Disorder-15 for Youth (ED-15-Y). International Journal of Eating Disorders, 54(4), 569–577. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.23449

•  Accurso, E. C., & Waller, G. (2021). Concordance between youth and caregiver report of eating disorder psychopathology: Development and psychometric properties of the Eating Disorder-15 for Parents/Caregivers (ED-15-P). International Journal of Eating Disorders, 54(7), 1302–1306. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.23557

Don’t forget the broader evidence that CBT for eating disorders (CBT-ED) is an effective approach for most adults with eating disorders:

• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (2017) Eating disorders: Recognition and treatment. London, UK: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.