Psychoeducation in affect regulation for patients with eating disorders: a randomized controlled feasibility study

This study examined the effects of a psychoeducational training program in affect regulation for patients with eating disorders. Nineteen female patients completed measures of affect regulation (ACS-90), alexithymia (TAS-26), and eating behavior (EDE-Q). Data were assessed at baseline and at 3 and 12 months posttreatment. Dependent on date of entering hospital, the patients were allocated consecutively to the control group (n =11), which received inpatient treatment as usual, or to the treatment group (n = 8), which received training in addition to usual inpatient treatment. At follow-up, the training was associated with statistically significant improvement in the skill of down-regulating negative affect and with a tendency towards less dietary restraint. Regarding alexithymia no clear results were found. Despite the small sample size, results showed that in addition to the general improvement due to the treatment usually provided in the clinical setting, the training program resulted in specific benefits for the patients with regard to their affect regulation skills.