How Do Patients and Their Supports Experience Temperament Based Therapy With Support (TBT-S)? A Qualitative Study

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Psychology
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Temperament-Based Therapy with Support (TBT-S) is an emerging intervention rooted in neurobiological models.
• Limited research exists on TBT-S, with no prior qualitative evaluations from the target population.
• This study addresses the gap by exploring patient and support person experiences with TBT-S.

Purpose of the Study:

• To qualitatively evaluate how patients with eating disorders and their supports perceive Temperament-Based Therapy with Support (TBT-S).
• To gain an in-depth understanding of the lived experiences of participants undergoing TBT-S.
• To identify potential areas for improvement in TBT-S based on participant feedback.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative study involving 46 patients with eating disorders and 63 support persons.
• Participants provided written responses to six open-ended questions post-treatment.
• Thematic analysis (TA) was employed to analyze qualitative data, identifying latent and semantic themes.

Main Results:

• Significant overlap was found between patient and support person experiences with TBT-S.
• Key benefits reported by both groups include increased knowledge and hopefulness.
• Patients found TBT-S challenging, while both groups highlighted the neurobiological rationale as crucial.

Conclusions:

• Qualitative insights offer a deeper understanding of TBT-S experiences for patients and supports.
• Findings can inform treatment improvements and guide future research on TBT-S effectiveness.
• This study provides a foundation for assessing TBT-S as an adjunct to standard eating disorder care.