Abstract
Empirically supported treatments (ESTs) exist but are not commonly used. Guided self-help (GSH) may be one tool to increase the dissemination of ESTs. This study examined the efficacy of a GSH treatment, for individuals with either full binge eating disorder (BED) or subthreshold BED, based on dialectical behaviour therapy (DBTgsh). Sixty individuals were randomized to either a DBTgsh condition or a wait-list condition (WL) for 13 weeks. Participants (mean age 42.8 years) were recruited from media advertisements. Individuals in the DBTgsh condition received a 40-minute orientation session, a copy of the manual, and six 20-minute support calls over 13 weeks. Participants were assessed at the beginning and end of the treatment period using diagnostic items from the Eating Disorder Examination and self-report measures. Participants in the DBTgsh condition were assessed at 6 months post-treatment. At the end of treatment, DBTgsh participants, compared to WL participants, reported significantly fewer binge eating episodes (2.1 versus 12.6) and significantly greater rates of abstinence from binge eating (50.0% versus 3.7%) in the last 28 days. In addition, after 13 weeks, participants in the DBTgsh condition reported greater increases in quality of life and emotional regulation ability and significant reductions in concerns about eating, shape, and weight, the tendency to be impulsive when in a negative mood, the tendency to eat when experiencing emotions, and the expectancy that food helps emotion regulation. Dietary restraint and the tendency to be impulsive when in a positive mood did not differ between the two groups. At 6 months post-treatment, most improvements in the DBTgsh group were maintained; rates of binge eating increased, but were still significantly lower than at baseline. DBTgsh may be an effective treatment for BED.
