Online dialectical behavior therapy for binge eating disorder: an open trial.

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to examine the efficacy of online Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Binge Eating Disorder (DBT-BED) in reducing eating psychopathology and investigate the factors that influence the severity and frequency of binge eating. Seventy-three individuals seeking treatment for BED participated in 20 two-hour group sessions. Participants completed the Emotional Eating Scale (EES), Binge Eating Scale (BES), and Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) before and after the treatment and at three- and six-month follow-ups. Results from 58 participants were analyzed. The study results indicated a significant decrease in objective binge eating (OBE) days, as well as in all EES, BES, and EDE-Q subscales (except the Restraint subscale), and global EDE-Q score at the end of treatment and follow-ups. Moreover, the Body Mass Index (BMI) reduced at the end of treatment and during the follow-up period. Except for the Restraint subscale, more OBE days were linked with higher EES, BES, and EDE-Q scores. Overall, the study suggests that online DBT-BED is an effective approach to treating Binge Eating Disorder (BED) for individuals who cannot receive in-person therapy. Further research is necessary to compare the efficacy of online DBT-BED with other interventions.