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Evaluation ViewAttendees 9

Panel Discussions

Eating Disorders

Panel Discussion 22 - Helpful Crosstalk: Integrating Clinical Science Perspectives in the Eating Disorders Field

Saturday, November 22, 2025
3:30 PM - 5:00 PM CST
Location: Foster 1, Level 2
Earn 1.5 Credit
Keywords: Eating, Translational Research, Mental Health Disparities
Recommended Readings: Kazdin, A. E., Fitzsimmons‐Craft, E. E., & Wilfley, D. E. (2017). Addressing critical gaps in the treatment of eating disorders. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 50(3), 170-189. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.22670,   Grilo, C. M. (2024). Treatment of eating disorders: Current status, challenges, and future directions. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 20. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-080822-043256,   Acle, A., Cook, B. J., Siegfried, N., & Beasley, T. (2021). Cultural considerations in the treatment of eating disorders among racial/ethnic minorities: a systematic review. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 52(5), 468-488. https://doi.org/10.1177/00220221211017664,   ,  
Eating Disorders (ED) remain at the top of the list of deadliest psychiatric illnesses. The gaps in psychological science within the ED field are vast and well known. We need a better understanding of mechanisms; more effective interventions to reach more and diverse populations; and to challenge harmful stereotypes and increase intersectional considerations. While these gaps persist, researchers are doing much of this work with exciting results: identifying transdiagnostic markers, alternative training models, digital and scalable interventions, culturally flexible diagnostic models, etc. Now we just need to keep talking with one another! This panel aims to create a space for leaders in the ED field to discuss these gaps and creative, inclusive solutions as well as how to meaningfully continue the conversations with broader ED research and treatment communities.

Panelists consist of five ED researchers and clinicians who were chairs or discussants from ED focused symposia from ABCT 2024. Topics will include mechanism identification, intervention design, dissemination and implementation, and health equity and intersectionality. Panelists will provide a concise update regarding their area of expertise in the field, highlighting key takeaways that they would like other researchers and clinicians to consider. Moderators will also present questions from individuals with lived experience and share insights on what they would like us (i.e., eating disorders professionals) to know.

Discussions will explore how to bridge divides: between experts in the field; between research and clinical practice; between clinicians and consumers; and between the help we have and those who can’t access it. Future directions for research, training, and clinical practice, as well as what and who are being left out, will also be considered.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this session, the learner will be able to:
  1. Identify 2 transdiagnostic mechanisms underlying eating disorder pathology and discuss implications for intervention.
  2. Examine 2 barriers that contribute to the research-care gap that are unique to the ED field.
  3. Identify 2 ways current ED research and clinical practice inadvertently exclude marginalized and underserved populations with EDs.
  4. Explore 3 strategies based in the emerging ED literature to address identified barriers to increase access to evidence based and inclusive ED care.
  5. Identify 3 actionable steps to enhance collaboration between clinicians, researchers, and those with lived experience in clinical research.