Mindfulness Training Effect on Self-monitoring Adherence and Group CBT Outcomes for Binge Eating Disorders

Summary

Bulimia Nervosa (BN), Binge Eating Disorder (BED) and Night Eating Syndrome (NES) are Binge Eating Disorders (BE-Dis) in which binge eating episodes are a main symptom. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the leading evidence-based treatment for patients suffering from these disorders. CBT-E is an "enhanced" trans-diagnostic version of the treatment which appears to be more effective in a variety of Eating Disorders (EDs). The main goals of this treatment are reducing dietary restrictions and EDs symptoms as well as food intake regulation. Self-monitoring (SM) is an important and central tool in this type of treatment considered crucial for its success. Therefore, during treatment, patients are required to monitor their eating, the circumstances, and their thoughts and feelings proximate to the time of eating. Nevertheless, despite the importance of this tool, research has shown that there are many difficulties challenging the clients' adherence to SM, which might reduce this treatment's effectiveness and outcome. Additionally, in recent years there has been cumulative data supporting the use of mindfulness in the treatment of EDs. Mindfulness, as a western psychological approach, is defined as the "unique non-judgmental focus of one's attention at the present moment". Although SM requires the ability to observe, describe and identify occurrences, no studies have yet examined the direct effect of mindfulness skills on SM adherence, and therefore the improvement of treatment outcomes.

The main objective of the present study is to examine the effect of a mindfulness based intervention on SM adherence during a CBT intervention for BE-Dis, and on the treatment outcomes as seen in the ED psychopathology and compliance to the nutritional instructions and food intake composition. Other aims include examining the differences between the experimental group and the control group, regarding their level of mindfulness and SM adherence. In addition, mediating and moderating processes between mindfulness and SM adherence will be examined.

Conditions

• Bulimia Nervosa
• Binge-Eating Disorder
• Night-eating Syndrome

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

MIND

Both experimental and control groups receive 20 weekly sessions (1.5 hours each), based on principles of CBT-E (Fairburn, 2008), adapted for a group format . The experimental group will receive in addition to CBT-E a mindfulness based intervention comprising of 4 weekly group sessions (1.5 hours each) during the month prior to the CBT-E program. The mindfulness skills intervention will also be practiced throughout the CBT-E program at the beginning of every group session and independently as homework. Mindfulness intervention includes "formal" mindfulness practice (brief mindfulness meditation - 10 minutes each) and "informal" mindfulness practice (Other "non meditation exercises", also known as "mindfulness in everyday life"- eg "STOP").

BEHAVIORAL

CBT-E

The comparison group (control) will receive 4 weekly supportive-educational group sessions (1.5 hours each) prior to the group CBT-E program, with no mindfulness content or training.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Haifa

  collaborator OTHER

• The Touro College and University System

  collaborator OTHER

• Shalvata Mental Health Center

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Evelyn Steiner, MD · Shalvata Mental Health Center

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

60 Years

Sex

FEMALE

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2015-10-01

Primary Completion

2018-01-01

Completion

2018-01-01