Kelly AC, Waring SV. A feasibility study of a 2-week self-compassionate letter-writing intervention for nontreatment seeking individuals with typical and atypical anorexia nervosa.
Int J Eat Disord 2018;
51:1005-1009. [PMID:
30102787 DOI:
10.1002/eat.22930]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2018] [Revised: 06/30/2018] [Accepted: 06/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
Most individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN) do not seek treatment and shame is a common barrier. This study sought to determine whether a brief intervention designed to foster self-compassion would reduce shame and increase treatment motivation among nontreatment seeking individuals with AN.
METHOD
Forty nontreatment seeking females with AN (75%) and atypical AN were randomly assigned to 2 weeks of a daily self-compassionate letter-writing intervention or a waitlist control condition. All participants completed pre, mid, and post questionnaires, and were weighed pre and post.
RESULTS
The intervention yielded respectable credibility ratings and compliance and retained 95% of participants. Compared to the control condition, it produced greater increases in self-compassion and greater decreases in shame and fears of self-compassion. BMI and readiness to get help for one's eating decreased in the control condition but did not change significantly in the intervention condition, though the motivation for treatment showed a trend toward increasing. Changes in eating pathology and readiness to get help for one's weight did not differ between conditions.
DISCUSSION
Self-compassionate letter-writing may be an acceptable and feasible intervention for nontreatment seeking individuals with AN and might reduce certain barriers to help-seeking while improving psychological functioning.
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