Challenging rigidity in Anorexia (treatment, training and supervision): questioning manual adherence in the face of complexity

Abstract

Plain English summary While there have been many advancements to treatment options and recovery rates for people with eating disorders, the field acknowledges there remains a long way to go. The development of treatment manuals for clinicians to use has many benefits, including promoting rigorous research, clear training and clinical guidelines, broader dissemination and accessibility, a common language for professionals, platforms from which to research necessary adaptations, and a set of core treatment principles. While it is often assumed that strict adherence to manuals will lead to the best treatment outcomes, research tells us a different story; that working flexibly and collaboratively with service users in an individually tailored way, focusing on meeting them where they’re at, and building trust and understanding between them may actually be the best way to improve treatment experience and outcomes. This paper highlights the need for this way of working to be embraced as a crucial part of evidence-informed practice, with some suggestions for further research, treatment guidelines, training and supervision provided.

Keywords

• Eating disorders
• Anorexia nervosa
• Adherence
• Manuals
• Training
• Supervision