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Self-compassion training for binge eating disorder: a pilot randomized controlled trial.
Allison C Kelly1, Jacqueline C Carter2
1Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
Psychology and Psychotherapy
|October 21, 2014
Summary
A compassion-focused therapy (CFT) self-help intervention effectively reduced binge eating disorder (BED) symptoms and eating concerns. This approach, along with self-compassion exercises, proved beneficial, especially when fear of self-compassion was addressed.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is a significant clinical challenge.
- Existing treatments for BED have varying efficacy and accessibility.
- Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) offers a novel approach to address psychological distress in BED.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare a CFT-based self-help intervention with a behavioral intervention for BED.
- To evaluate the efficacy of self-compassion exercises in reducing binge eating and related psychopathology.
- To explore the role of fear of self-compassion in treatment outcomes.
Main Methods:
- A pilot study involving 41 individuals with BED.
- Random assignment to three conditions: CFT self-help, behavioral intervention, or wait-list control.
- Weekly assessments of binge eating and self-compassion, with pre- and post-intervention measures of eating disorder pathology, depressive symptoms, and fear of self-compassion.
Main Results:
- Both interventions reduced binge eating frequency compared to the control.
- The CFT intervention significantly reduced eating disorder pathology, eating concerns, and weight concerns.
- The CFT intervention increased self-compassion levels more than other conditions.
- Individuals with lower fear of self-compassion benefited more from the CFT intervention.
Conclusions:
- CFT-based self-help interventions show preliminary promise for treating BED.
- Self-compassion cultivation may effectively reduce binge eating and associated concerns.
- Assessing and addressing fear of self-compassion is crucial for maximizing benefits from CFT interventions in BED.
Keywords:
Self-Compassionbinge eating disordercompassion-focused therapyeating disordersfear of self-compassionself-helpMore Related Videos
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