Using CBT-E in the Treatment of Anorexia Nervosa With Comorbid Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder and Clinical Perfectionism

ObjectiveSeveral studies and clinical vignettes emphasize the association between eating disorders and maladaptive personality traits that should be targeted in treatment to strengthen the therapeutic prognosis and outcome. The aim of this paper is to present a single case study with a patient showing comorbid Anorexia Nervosa (AN) and Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) with perfectionistic traits, using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Eating disorders (CBT-E) and Perfectionism (CBT-P).MethodsThe patient, a young girl aged 17 years, was underweight when entering therapy and received an enhanced version of CBT-E with 40 sessions as recommended in the manual. The treatment was adjusted for adolescents with a heightened focus on motivation, therapeutic alliance, and parental involvement. The clinical interventions were structured in accordance with CBT-E for adolescents with six added sessions targeting clinical perfectionism based on CBT-P focusing on over-evaluation of achievements in addition to weight and shape.ResultsThe patient showed a gradual decrease in eating disorder symptoms and perfectionism through the 1-year treatment. She was normal weight by the end of therapy, enjoyed varied food, was more socially engaged and balanced clinical perfectionism with more healthy strivings and standards. She was also able to express her need for boundaries and rest to family, friends and her sports team. At the final assessment, she did not fulfill diagnostic criteria for AN or OCPD with perfectionistic traits, but she showed some symptoms in achievement situations that was targeted by information and preventive interventions.ConclusionIn accordance with the manual for CBT-E, perfectionism should be targeted as part of the treatment for eating disorders when in the clinical range. This was done in the present case with AN and perfectionistic traits within a comorbid OCPD, using elements of CBT-P that showed positive results and meaningful changes for the patient.