Psychology Today recommends that any co-occurring disorder be treated with therapy that coordinates interventions for various disorders, rather than treating diagnoses separately. This integrated approach often combines targeted behavioral therapy for all diagnoses with medication, when necessary. A wholistic approach to recovery will ensure that all potential issues will be addressed and their relationship to each other (when there is one) uncovered.

Co-occurring treatment centers offer services treating various aspects of mental health, even if they specialize in one diagnosis like eating disorders or substance abuse. The idea is that in order to be truly well, patients must be healed from all mental health issues, not just the one for which they are in treatment.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is well-established as a successful, long-term treatment for eating disorders and other mood disorders, and it and other similar therapies can be used to treat co-occurring disorders simultaneously. CBT focuses on identifying, understanding and changing thinking and behavior patterns. Medication may be used in conjunction with therapy to aid in the treatment of symptoms of anxiety and depression.

PTSD is another disorder with that commonly occurs alongside eating disorders, which is why Meadows Senior Fellow Jenni Schaefer is a strong believer that trauma-informed care is another important option for someone struggling with an eating disorder. Trauma-induced symptoms can exacerbate eating disorder symptoms and prevent proper recovery if both disorders are not addressed. People with eating disorders have a higher lifetime rate of PTSD than the general population, so eating disorder treatment that includes trauma-informed care is highly beneficial. Trauma-informed care offers evidence-based treatments that specifically treat PTSD, like biofeedback, neurofeedback and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).