Therapists' self-reported drift from dialectical behavior therapy techniques for eating disorders.

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology
• Behavioral Therapy

Background:

• Evidence-based therapies are often underused or omitted by clinicians.
• The specific application of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) techniques in eating disorder treatment remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the utilization of DBT techniques by clinicians treating eating disorders.
• To identify distinct therapist groups based on DBT technique usage.
• To examine the relationship between clinician characteristics and DBT technique application.

Main Methods:

• An online survey was administered to 73 clinicians specializing in DBT for eating disorders.
• Clinicians reported on their use of specific DBT techniques.
• Personality and intolerance of uncertainty were also assessed.

Main Results:

• DBT technique usage exhibited a bimodal distribution: techniques were used either extensively or minimally.
• Two therapist groups emerged: one with high DBT technique use, another with greater use of eating disorder-specific methods.
• Increased clinician experience correlated with a greater focus on DBT techniques.

Conclusions:

• DBT clinicians treating eating disorders should integrate both DBT and eating disorder-specific techniques.
• Training, supervision, and manuals are recommended to ensure consistent DBT implementation and reduce "therapist drift".