Efficacy of a brief group intervention for carers of individuals with eating disorders: A randomized control trial

Interventions for carers of individuals with eating disorders are often time and resource intensive, which may be a barrier for service providers or attendees. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a very brief, two-session psychoeducation and communication skills-based intervention for carers of individuals with eating disorders.

Carers (N = 44) were randomized to attend two 2.5 hr sessions delivered 1 week apart or waitlist control. Carer burden, self-efficacy, skills, knowledge, expressed emotion (emotional overinvolvement and critical comments), distress (anxiety and depression), and accommodating and enabling behaviors were assessed at preintervention and postintervention and 1-month follow-up.

Carer burden, self-efficacy, skills, knowledge, and one component of expressed emotion (critical comments) improved significantly more in the treatment group compared to the waitlist. Changes in anxiety, depression, and accommodating and enabling behaviors did not significantly differ between groups.

These results demonstrated that substantial improvements can be made from a very brief carers' intervention. More intensive and targeted interventions might be required to address carers' emotional symptoms and to reduce accommodating and enabling behaviors.