Evaluation of Self-esteem Group Therapy for Eating Disorders

Summary

Self-esteem group is a novel, manualised group programme designed for adolescent inpatients with eating disorders.

Research questions:

Does the self-esteem group improve self-esteem in adolescent inpatients with eating disorders? Are any changes in self-esteem maintained at 4 week follow-up after the group? Does eating disorder psychopathology improve more during admission for those who complete the self-esteem group compared to those who do not complete the group?

Background:

Low self-esteem has been established as a strong predictor of onset, maintenance and relapse in eating disorders. For patients with low self-esteem, change can be particularly difficult to achieve. The intensity of their low self-esteem leads them to strive to control their eating, weight and shape to gain a sense of self-worth and the pervasive negative view of themselves results in them seeing little or no prospect of recovery. This suggests treatment of low self-esteem is clinically and financially important. Studies have shown cognitive behavioural based group therapies improve self esteem in adults with eating disorders; however research including adolescents is limited. This research will contribute to the evidence base for self-esteem interventions in adolescents and inform the effectiveness of a new treatment. The research will be funded by Newbridge House, an inpatient unit for children and adolescents with eating disorders.

Design:

Inpatients at Newbridge House aged 11 - 18, fulfilling DSM-V criteria for an eating disorder will be recruited.Participants will be randomly allocated to a case or control group. Cases will receive the 6 week self-esteem group in addition to treatment as usual (TAU) and will be compared with controls who receive TAU. Both groups will complete a questionnaire pre-group, post-group and 4 weeks post-group. Admission and discharge questionnaires routinely collected will be examined to assess change in eating disorder psychopathology.

Conditions

• Self Esteem
• Eating Disorders

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Self-esteem group

The intervention will comprise of 6 sessions of group self-esteem therapy which uses a cognitive behavioural approach. The therapy has been manualised into a 76 page treatment protocol and will be administered by Assistant Psychologists employed at Newbridge House receiving weekly supervision from a Clinical Psychologist. The self-esteem group is based on Melanie Fennel's cognitive behavioural model of low self-esteem addressing thoughts, feeling and behaviours. The group aims to improve self-esteem and build positivity. The sessions are structured and laid out in the following overview: Week 1, Session 1: What is self-esteem and an introduction to CBT Week 2, Session 2: How might low self-esteem develop? Week 3, Session 3: Negative automatic thoughts Week 4, Session 4: Challenging negative automatic thoughts Week 5, Session 5: Creating new coping strategies Week 6, Session 6: Building positivity

BEHAVIORAL

Treatment as Usual

Treatment as usual refers to the standard inpatient treatment programme at Newbridge House which includes: individual therapy, occupational therapy, drama therapy, family therapy, dietetic support, nursing support, yoga and medication prescribed by a consultant psychiatrist.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Newbridge House

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

FACTORIAL

Eligibility

Min Age

11 Years

Max Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2018-10-22

Primary Completion

2020-04-22

Completion

2020-04-22

Countries

• United Kingdom

Study Locations