The network analysis in patients with anorexia nervosa treated with intensive enhanced cognitive behavior therapy: reflections on the research data

The network theory conceptualizes mental disorders as causally connected symptom systems rather than effects of a superordinate and unknowable illness, otherwise called latent. Network analysis, statistical technique designed to identify structures among psychiatric symptoms from empirical data, has been widely used in eating disorders. Three these studies have conducted on patients with anorexia nervosa treated intensive enhanced cognitive behavior therapy (CBT-E). first study found that the adult adolescent are similar share overvaluation shape weight core feature psychopathology, supporting behavioral theory. second CBT-E reduces psychopathology connectivity over time nervosa, confirming effectiveness improving eating-disorder psychopathology. In contrast, third study, including networks not only clinical features disorder but also those general structure remains unchanged mainly after CBT-E. These findings stimulate rethinking current viewing potential reasons for partial efficacy actual therapeutic interventions which seem effective enough break bonds between specific nonspecific features.