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Adult AN Treatments — MRCPsych Paper B MCQ

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ModerateEating DisordersAdult AN TreatmentsMRCPsych Paper B

A 28-year-old adult with anorexia nervosa is medically stable and is beginning treatment with a specialist community eating-disorder service. They have not previously received eating-disorder-focused psychological therapy. Which set comprises the three psychological treatments that NICE recommends considering as initial options?

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Correct answer: E — Individual CBT-ED, MANTRA, or specialist supportive clinical management

NICE recommends considering one of three initial psychological treatments for adults with anorexia nervosa: individual eating-disorder-focused cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT-ED), Maudsley Anorexia Nervosa Treatment for Adults (MANTRA), or specialist supportive clinical management (SSCM). The person should be told what each involves so that treatment choice can be collaborative. Focal psychodynamic therapy is not one of these three initial options; it may be considered if CBT-ED, MANTRA and SSCM are unacceptable, contraindicated or ineffective. Anorexia-nervosa-focused family therapy and adolescent-focused psychotherapy are principally recommended for children and young people. Guided self-help and group CBT-ED feature in NICE pathways for other eating disorders rather than as the three initial adult anorexia nervosa treatments.

Reference: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Eating disorders: recognition and treatment (NG69), section 1.3, recommendations 1.3.4 and 1.3.8. Published 2017; updated 2020. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng69/chapter/recommendations