Uniting couples (in the treatment of) anorexia nervosa (UCAN)

OBJECTIVE: To describe the development of a novel couple-based cognitive-behavioral intervention for adult anorexia nervosa (AN) called Uniting Couples (in the treatment of) Anorexia Nervosa (UCAN). METHOD: We review the state of the science for the treatment of adult AN, the nature of relationships in AN, our model of couple functioning in AN, and the development of the UCAN intervention. RESULTS: We present the UCAN treatment for patients with AN and their partners and discuss important considerations in the delivery of the intervention. DISCUSSION: With further evaluation, we expect that UCAN will emerge to be an effective, acceptable, disseminable, and developmentally tailored intervention that will serve to improve both core AN pathology as well as couple functioning.