ABSTRACT
This chapter describes theoretical and empirical knowledge of Severe and Enduring Anorexia Nervosa (SE-AN) to highlight current knowledge about the clinical population. It examines how SE-AN is defined in the literature. The chapter reviews both the empirical literature and theoretical perspectives on the psychosocial treatment of SE-AN, including a randomized-controlled trial comparing two treatments for SE-AN, two case-series studies, and clinical descriptions of intervention strategies. It deals with the recent growth in treatment research for SE-AN, including a treatment trial suggesting that patients with SE-AN can achieve positive changes during treatment. It has been speculated that widening the set of treatment goals for patients with SE-AN helps to increase engagement and motivation, which in turn promotes improvement in symptoms and functioning. Qualitative research on women recovered from SE-AN suggests that recovery is a developmental process during which motivation reaches a "tipping point" when patients are ready for intervention and possible change.
