Overcoming destructive societal values in the treatment of anorexia nervosa: An intensive day treatment model

Sociocultural contributions to the development of anorexia nervosa are examined, and a treatment approach for counteracting these factors are presented. An intensive day treatment program serves as a prototype of such an approach, designed to help overcome the destructive effects of certain values prevalent in North America. This treatment program is outlined and evaluated. The program includes expressive therapies (art, dance, music, and drama), skill-focused activities (stress management, assertiveness training and nutrition programs) and a fitness/recreation program. Significant psychological changes in the participants were found on 10 of the 11 measures employed for evaluatio—the eight scales of the Eating Disorder Inventory, the two clinical scales of the Eysenck Personality Inventory, and the Self-Control Scale of the Reid-Ware Multidimensional Internal-External Scale. The value of such a program as one component of an overall treatment strategy is discussed.