**6. New modifications of IPT for patients with eating disorders**

In recent months, a new theoretical model of IPT for eating disorders has been proposed (Reiger et al., 2010). This model suggests that eating disorders are triggered by negative feedback regarding an individual's social worth due to its negative effect on self-esteem and associated mood. Eating disordered behaviours often begin because of this negative social evaluation, and over time such behaviours may become a more reliable source of self esteem and mood regulation than social interactions. The aim of IPT then is to help the patient to develop positive, healthy relationships, which replace the eating disorder in the attainment of positive esteem and affect. This newly proposed model also includes the monitoring of eating disorder symptoms and other elements, which were taken out of the original IPT-BN to make it comparable with CBT. However, this new therapeutic model has not yet been supported by empirical studies and does not differentiate between the treatment of anorexic and bulimic disorders.
