Baseline characteristics and treatment outcomes of binge-spectrum eating disorders
Year: 2024
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for Binge-spectrum eating disorders (BSED) yields suboptimal outcomes. It is crucial to identify subgroups for whom novel treatment interventions are warranted. Emerging adults (ages 18-24) may demonstrate higher impulsivity, poorer emotion regulation, heightened reward sensitivity, and life management difficulties compared to other (25+ years) adults. Therefore, emerging adults may enter treatment with greater BSED severity and experience worse treatment outcomes. Using data from 4 studies of women (N=167) who received CBT-E for BSED, we compared emerging adults to other adults on baseline impulsivity, emotion dysregulation, food reward sensitivity and eating pathology. We examined whether age group predicted post-treatment eating pathology, remission, and dropout rate. Compared to other adults, emerging adults had significantly higher impulsivity (t(150) = 3.37, p < .001) and emotion dysregulation (p < .001 to p = .013) at baseline. Emerging adults displayed no post- treatment differences in binge eating frequency or eating pathology severity. They had significantly lower odds of achieving remission from LOC eating and/or compensatory behaviors (p = .039, OR = 2.57). Emerging adults with BSED may benefit from an increased treatment focus on emotion regulation skills. Future research is warranted to optimize BSED treatment for emerging adults.
DOI: 10.17918/00001938
Authors: Lucy Wetherall, Stephanie M. Manasse
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
OpenAlex ID: W4395029669