UCAN: Uniting Couples in the Treatment of Anorexia Nervosa (UCAN)

UCAN is a research program funded by the National Institute of Mental Health and is part of the UNC Eating Disorders Program. UCAN aims to help couples work together in the treatment of anorexia nervosa. Couples participate in UCAN over a period of six months and return for follow-up treatment three months after the end of the original six-month period. Patients receive weekly individual therapy, monthly psychiatry consultations, monthly dietary consultations in addition to being randomized to one of two types of weekly couples therapy. Participation in UCAN can help participants gain new confidence in facing anorexia as a team and can help us understand how best to involve partners in the treatment of eating disorders.

Patients receive comprehensive eating disorder treatment at the UNC Eating Disorders Outpatient Program in addition to couples therapy. Eligibility: Participants may be eligible if they are 18 or older, have anorexia nervosa and are currently living with a partner with whom they have been in a committed relationship for at least a year. The partner must also be willing to enter treatment.

CBCT is a 20-week program consisting of 1-hour sessions between a couple and a therapist. In this program, couples learn about ways to communicate about their relationship in the context of experiencing anorexia nervosa. CBCT focuses on couple-specific skills such as communication and targets relationship domains such as exercise, body image and sexuality, eating together as a couple, and broader relationship concerns outside of anorexia nervosa.

Couples meet once a week for an hour for a period of 20 weeks for couples therapy. Family Supportive Therapy is not manualized and is the standard form of care at the UNC Eating Disorders Program

Couples meet once a week for an hour for a period of 20 weeks for couples therapy. Family Supportive Therapy is not manualized and is the standard form of care at the UNC Eating Disorders Program

Inclusion Criteria: Anorexia Nervosa, 18 years or older, BMI 16 or higher, In a committed relationship with a partner for 1 year or longer and currently living together. Exclusion Criteria: Alcohol or drug dependence in past year, Current significant suicidal ideation, Developmental disability that would impair the ability of the participant to benefit from the intervention, Psychosis, BMI less than 16.