16-133a Eating Disorders: Etiology and Treatment Approaches from Adolescence to
Adulthood – 6 Hour Seminar
Chelsea MacCaughelty, L.C.S.W.
Saturday, June 18, 2016
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Course Description
Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder. This course will focus on the
spectrum of eating disorders, specifically including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating
disorder. There will be some focus on and discussion of the change in diagnostic criteria from DSM-IV-TR to
DSM-5 and the rationale for the changes. Predisposing, precipitating, and perpetuating evidence-based factors
related to the development of eating disorders will be reviewed and discussed as well as how eating disorders
may be viewed through a biopsychosocial lens. Potential medical complications, warning signs and symptoms,
common transference and countertransference dynamics when working with clients with eating disorders, and
useful concepts for understanding eating disorders will be highlighted. Lastly, a variety of treatment modalities
(CBT, Mentalization-based, DBT, ACT, family systems) and their effectiveness in the treatment of eating
disorders will be reviewed. Case examples will be used throughout the presentation.
Faculty: Chelsea MacCaughelty, L.C.S.W. – Creator and Co-developer of the Eating Disorder Track (EDT)
as well as Clinical Staff Social Worker at The Menninger Clinic in Houston, Texas; PhD Candidate at Smith
College School of Social Work; Member of research group examining effectiveness of the Eating Disorder
Track and other clinical outcomes. Chelsea graduated with Bachelor and Master of Social Work degrees from
The University of Georgia before completing a Post-Graduate Fellowship on the Eating Disorders Program
(EDP) and Professionals in Crisis (PIC) unit at Menninger.
Learning Objectives
After attending this seminar, participants will be able to:
1. Develop awareness and understanding of the spectrum of eating disorders
2. Gain knowledge about the underlying etiology and pathogenesis of eating disorders
3. Deepen understanding of a variety of treatment modalities and their specific applicability to eating disorders
Bibliography

Hudson, J. I., Hiripi, E., Pope, H. G., & Kessler, R. C. (2007). The Prevalence and Correlates of Eating Disorders
in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Biological psychiatry, 61(3), 348-358. Retrieved from
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1892232/pdf/nihms19542.pdf

Jacobi, C., & Fittig, E. (2012). Psychosocial risk factors for eating disorders. In W. S. Agras (Ed.), The Oxford
Handbook of Eating Disorders (pp. 123-136.). New York: Oxford University Press. Retrieved from
http://www.oxfordhandbooks.com/view/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780195373622.001.0001/oxfordhb-9780195373622e-008. doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780195373622.013.0008

Klump, K. L., Bulik, C. M., Kaye, W. H., Treasure, J., & Tyson, E. (2009).Academy for Eating Disorders
position paper: Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 42(2),97–
103.

Zerbe, K. (2008). Integrated treatment of eating disorders: Beyond the body betrayed. New York: W.W. Norton &
Co.