Meta-emotion therapy for complex trauma and binge eating: A case study.
Gemma Frost1, Esben Strodl1, Wole Akosile2
1School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology.
Psychological Trauma : Theory, Research, Practice and Policy
|March 18, 2024
Summary
Meta-emotion therapy (MET) shows promise for treating complex posttraumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD) and binge eating disorder (BED) comorbidity. This novel approach effectively reduced symptoms and negative beliefs about emotions in a single case study.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry and Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Trauma Studies
Background:
- Complex posttraumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD) and binge eating disorder (BED) frequently co-occur.
- Limited evidence exists for effective treatment guidelines for this specific comorbidity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present preliminary evidence for the efficacy of meta-emotion therapy (MET) in treating comorbid C-PTSD and BED.
- To explore MET's impact on maladaptive beliefs about emotions in this population.
Main Methods:
- A single case study design was employed.
- A 35-year-old female with comorbid C-PTSD and BED received 14 sessions of MET.
- Outcome measures included PTSD and BED symptoms, cognitions, distress, and emotion beliefs, assessed at multiple time points.
Main Results:
- The participant demonstrated significant reductions in PTSD symptoms, posttraumatic cognitions, and BED symptoms.
- Improvements were observed in distress levels and negative beliefs about emotions.
- Participant feedback indicated a positive perception of the MET intervention.
Conclusions:
- Meta-emotion therapy (MET) shows potential as an effective intervention for adults with comorbid C-PTSD and BED.
- Further research with larger intervention trials is needed to confirm efficacy and long-term outcomes.
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