Effectiveness of a brief form of group dialectical behavior therapy for binge‐eating disorder: Case series in a routine clinical setting

Abstract

Objective While there is evidence to support the use of group dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) in the treatment of binge‐eating disorder (BED), treatment is relatively long compared with other evidence‐based treatments. This study explored the effectiveness of brief DBT groups for BED, delivered in a routine community setting. Method Eighty‐four adults with BED entered 10‐week DBT group treatment in a community eating disorders service. In total, 12 groups were conducted. Patients completed measures of eating disorder pathology, anxiety, depression, and emotional eating at the start and end of treatment, and at 1‐month follow‐up. Frequency of weekly binges was recorded. Results Outcomes were similar to those of longer versions of DBT, with an attrition rate of 26%, and significant reductions in eating disorder psychopathology and emotional eating by the end of treatment and at follow‐up. Over 50% of patients were abstinent from binge eating by Session 4. Discussion Group DBT delivered in a 10‐session format is clinically equivalent to longer versions of the same treatment. Future research is required to explore patterns of change and to demonstrate replicability under controlled conditions, but these findings are promising for the efficient delivery of effective treatment and reducing waiting times.

Recent Advances in Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy for Eating Disorders (CBT-ED)

“…Such briefer individual and group therapies [ 17 •] can enhance patient access to effective treatment. Similarly, group Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (with its focus on behavioural, cognitive, and emotional change) can be as effective in half the time [ 18 , 19 ]. Guided self-help has also demonstrated important steps towards greater efficiency over a limited therapy period [ 20 ], remaining more effective than pure self-help [ 21 , 22 ], and performing better than other internet-based approaches [ 23 ].…”

Current Discoveries and Future Implications of Eating Disorders

“…The act of dialectic behavior therapy: It reduces the desire to overeat through studying behavioral skills that can help regulate emotions and perfect relationships with other people [114][115][116].…”

New developments in cognitive-behavioural therapy for eating disorders (CBT-ED)

“…Since that time, there has been considerable evidence for the benefits of brief forms of CBT-ED for nonunderweight patients, along with evidence that a brief form of group dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) can be as effective as longer versions [ 67 ]. The development of a 10-session version of CBT-ED (CBT-T) [ 68 ] has been supported by case series and cohort comparison studies showing that this approach is as effective as 20-session therapy (e.g., CBT-E), with comparable outcomes at the end of treatment and at follow-up [ 30 , 69 , 70 , 71 ▪ ].…”

“…Some are well established as being moderately effective compared to CBT-ED, such as DBT, and include elements that have been incorporated into existing CBT-ED approaches. Recent developments have been limited, though Blood et al [ 82 ] and Adams et al [ 67 ] have shown that DBT can be delivered in routine clinical settings, and in a briefer form. Furthermore, Lammers et al [ 83 ] showed comparable results in clinically meaningful changes for DBT-ED and CBT in obese patients with binge eating disorder.…”