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Rapid improvements in emotion regulation predict eating disorder psychopathology and functional impairment at 6‐month follow‐up in individuals with bulimia nervosa and purging disorder
Author(s) -
MacDonald Danielle E.,
Trottier Kathryn
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
international journal of eating disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.785
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1098-108X
pISSN - 0276-3478
DOI - 10.1002/eat.23117
Subject(s) - psychopathology , bulimia nervosa , psychology , abstinence , binge eating disorder , eating disorders , clinical psychology , binge eating , psychiatry , cognitive reappraisal , cognition
Objective We previously demonstrated that early improvements in access to emotion regulation strategies during the first 4 weeks of intensive cognitive behavior therapy (CBT)‐based eating disorder (ED) treatment predicted a range of post‐treatment outcomes. This follow‐up article examines whether early improvements in access to emotion regulation strategies continue to predict good treatment outcomes at 6 months post‐treatment. Method Participants were 76 patients with bulimia nervosa or purging disorder who participated in the original study and the 6‐month follow‐up assessment. Hierarchical regression models were used to examine whether early improvements in emotion regulation strategies predicted 6‐month follow‐up outcomes. Results After controlling relevant covariates and rapid and substantial behavior change, greater early improvements in access to emotion regulation strategies during the first 4 weeks of intensive treatment predicted lower overall ED psychopathology and ED‐related functional impairment 6 months after treatment. They did not predict abstinence from binge, vomit, and laxative use behaviors during the follow‐up period. Discussion Individuals who learn early in treatment that they can use skills to more effectively regulate emotions have better treatment outcomes on some variables 6 months after treatment. Teaching emotion regulation skills in the first phase of CBT for ED may be beneficial, particularly for individuals with baseline difficulties.