A Brief Online Intervention Based on Dialectical Behavior Therapy for a Reduction in Binge-Eating Symptoms and Eating...

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Dysregulated eating behaviors, including binge-eating disorder (BED) and bulimia nervosa (BN), are prevalent and negatively impact health.
• Access to timely diagnosis and treatment for BED and BN is often delayed, highlighting the need for accessible interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a 10-session, web-based, multidisciplinary group intervention using Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for individuals with BED and BN.
• To assess the intervention's impact on reducing psychological distress, binge-eating symptomatology, and enhancing self-esteem and eating self-efficacy.

Main Methods:

• A total of 65 participants with dysregulated eating behaviors were assigned to either the experimental group (N=43) receiving the web-based DBT intervention or a treatment-as-usual (TAU) group (N=22).
• The intervention included 9 weekly sessions focused on DBT principles and one session of nutritional therapeutic education.
• Assessments were conducted before the intervention (T0), immediately after (T1), and one month post-intervention (T2).

Main Results:

• The experimental group showed significant reductions in binge-eating symptomatology and general psychopathology from T0 to T1.
• Participants in the experimental group also reported increased self-esteem and eating self-efficacy in social contexts post-intervention.
• These improvements were maintained at the one-month follow-up (T2) for binge-eating symptoms, psychopathology, and social eating self-efficacy.

Conclusions:

• A brief, web-based, multidisciplinary group intervention incorporating DBT is effective in reducing eating symptomatology and psychological distress.
• The intervention successfully enhanced self-esteem and eating self-efficacy in individuals with dysregulated eating behaviors.
• Web-based interventions offer a sustainable and accessible approach to managing binge-eating-related symptoms within public health settings.