There are an ever increasing amount of different available approaches to therapy, including family therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy and interpersonal therapy. In recent years a new approach, namely CAT, has been recognised to be of significant use particularly for those wishing to learn effective skills for understanding their illness and both attaining and maintaining healthy recovery. Key areas to be explored are listed below.
- What is CAT?
- CAT processes
- Implications & benefits for eating disorder patients
What is CAT?
CAT stands for Cognitive Analytic Therapy and was developed during the 1980s by Anthony Ryle at St. Thomas's Hospital, London. This approach is a brief, effective, time-limited and applies both psychoanalytical knowledge and techniques with further treatment forms associated with psychotherapy and cognitive psychology. Cognitive Analytical Therapy primarily uses a combination of the patient's resources/capacities and techniques.
Specific patient groups who are likely to benefit from CAT treatment include those suffering from personality disorders, addiction issues, depression and eating disorders. According to Treasure et al. (2003) the aim of CAT (as with most therapies) is to enhance self-efficacy, self-reflection and help to generate change.
CAT Processes
The above aims are achieved through three main processes: reformulation, recognition and revision.
Reformulation involves two parts: the therapist writing a reformulation letter which explains where the patient has come from and where they are now in relation to their problems and using a "map" to show key traps, their consequences and exit strategies. Recognition of the patterns or cycles of behaviour is the next step, firstly within the context of therapy sessions, in the present and later in life outside of sessions. Revision is all about looking back and identifying changes made and those yet required to be made.
Implications & Benefits for Eating Disorder Patients
Ryle (1993) highlights that even patients whose behaviours may be well-developed and possess resistant symptoms (for example in the case of anorexia/ bulimia) may see significant levels of change even from a short, initial CAT intervention (although more treatment is likely to be required).
Therapy can also be used to enhance motivation, address key issues such as weight restoration and help the patient become less ambivalent regarding change. The CAT model may also help provide new meaning and understanding of the patient's illness as using a map helps one see the traps, processes in a new light from a completely different perspective or approach.
Sources:
Ryle, A. (1993) Cognitive Analytic Therapy Chichester: John Wiley & Sons
Treasure et al. (2003) Handbook of Eating Disorders Chichester: Wiley
Kate Le Page - Kate Henning-Le Page writes about eating disorders, body image and recovery issues. She specializes in anorexia recovery.
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