title: Outcome from a randomized controlled trial of group therapy for binge eating disorder: comparing dialectical behavior therapy adapted for binge eating to an active comparison group therapy.
abstract: Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Binge Eating Disorder (DBT-BED) aims to reduce binge eating by improving adaptive emotion-regulation skills. Preliminary findings have been promising but have only compared DBT-BED to a wait-list. To control for the hypothesized specific effects of DBT-BED, the present study compared DBT-BED to an active comparison group therapy (ACGT). Men and women (n=101) meeting DSM-IV BED research criteria were randomly assigned to 20 group sessions of DBT-BED (n=50) or ACGT (n=51). DBT-BED had a significantly lower dropout rate (4%) than ACGT (33.3%). Linear Mixed Models revealed that posttreatment binge abstinence and reductions in binge frequency were achieved more quickly for DBT-BED than for ACGT (posttreatment abstinence rate=64% for DBT-BED vs. 36% for ACGT) though differences did not persist over the 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up assessments (e.g., 12-month follow-up abstinence rate=64% for DBT-BED vs. 56% for ACGT). Secondary outcome measures revealed no sustained impact on emotion regulation. Although both DBT-BED and ACGT reduced binge eating, DBT-BED showed significantly fewer dropouts and greater initial efficacy (e.g., at posttreatment) than ACGT. The lack of differential findings over follow-up suggests that the hypothesized specific effects of DBT-BED do not show long-term impact beyond those attributable to nonspecific common therapeutic factors.
authors.affiliation: Stanford University, Dept. of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, 401 Quarry Rd., MC 5722, Stanford, CA 94305, USA. dlsafer@stanford
authors.forename: Debra L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Safer
authors.forename: Athena Hagler
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Booil
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jo
mesh_terms: D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D056912:Binge-Eating Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010352:Patient Dropouts; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome