CPG for Eating Disorders

15. Future research recommendationsThe following studies are required:Studies that clarify the benefits, versus potential risks, of primary prevention programmes inschools and in mass media.Studies that describe the value of preventive interventions (screening and risk factors) in childhoodand adolescence, considered the highest risk group for developing eating disorders.Studies that improve evidence regarding the choice of the treatment prescribed, the selection ofother specific instruments and the expected duration and intensity of treatment in order toachieve the best results (immediate and long-term), based on clearly defined clinical indicatorsand on a more precise description of the stages of these disorders.Studies that determine predisposing and precipitating biological and genetic risk factors foreating disorders. Also determine environmental, neuropsychological and personality risk factorsthat serve as precursors-protectors of eating disorders.Studies that address proper methods for the treatment of osteopenia, osteoporosis and other“diseases-sequelae” of AN.In the case of AN, studies that assess specific treatments for your patients, who are probablymore sensitive to treatment and should be differentiated from treatments designed for olderpatients and patients with more chronic diseases, since that the characteristics and response totreatment, in other diseases, varies between these groups. Large multi-centre studies withadequate strength and required given that it is hard to recruit and retain patients with AN incontrolled treatment studies due to the high dropout rate.In the case of BN, studies that help to determine predictive factors of therapeutic success-failureand early predictors of change. Better studies are also required to address the treatment ofcomplex cases with multiple comorbidities that are so common in health care practice.In the case of BED, combined with obesity, studies on the best sequence of treatments (forexample, if BED treatment precedes, or not, weight management treatment) and on the longtermbenefits of treatment in terms of eating disorder symptoms and weight.Studies that analyse in depth the clinical-phenomenological intrinsic characteristics ofEDNOS (clinical and personality) and the efficacy of specific therapeutic approaches.Studies that analyse the clinical-phenomenological characteristics of less prevalent eatingdisorder groups (late onset, males, etc.) and the efficacy of specific treatments.Studies on the development and validation of SH therapeutic programmes not only in a printedformat, but also and especially using the latest technological instruments (computerisedCLINICAL PRACTICE GUIDELINE FOR EATING DISORDERS210