Can early change in eating disorder psychopathology predict outcome in guided self-help for binge eating?

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

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Eating disorders require more effective therapies than are currently available. While cognitive behavioural therapy for eating disorders (CBT-ED) has the most evidence to support its effectiveness, it requires substantial improvement in order to enhance its reach and outcomes, and to reduce relapse rates. Recent years have seen a number of noteworthy developments in CBT-ED, which are summarised in this paper.

RECENT FINDINGS

The key advances identified here include: improvements in the efficiency and availability of CBT-ED; expansion of applicability to younger cases across durations of eating disorder; and new methodologies. There have been important recent advances in the field of CBT-ED. However, it is important to stress that there remain gaps in our evidence base and clinical skills, and suggestions are made for future research and clinical directions.

Therapeutic alliance in two forms of guided self-help for binge eating

The role of therapeutic alliance within psychological treatments for eating disorders (EDs), including those delivered remotely, is well established. However, few studies have investigated alliance in guided self-help, a widely recommended first-line treatment for EDs characterised by regular binge eating. Using data from a randomised controlled trial, the current study examined both facilitator and patient assessments of alliance within e-mail-assisted and face-to-face guided self-help and looked at associations between alliance, ED symptoms and ED-related impairment. One hundred thirteen patients and 11 facilitators completed measures of alliance during and following a course of guided self-help. Whilst ratings were reliable across patients and facilitators, alliance scores were higher both in the patient sample and in the face-to-face condition. Ratings of alliance showed no correlations with ED symptoms at post-treatment, and early alliance was not significantly associated with outcome, which could inform how early symptom change is encouraged in guided self-help.