The "Brain Over Binge Recovery Guide" (Hansen, 2016), is a self-help approach that incorporates fundamental aspects of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, Motivational Enhancement Therapy and addictions treatment. This approach has been streamlined into a guided self-help protocol (Binge Focused Therapy, or BFT) that can be delivered by undergraduate students with minimal mental health experience in 3 group sessions spread over 8 weeks (i.e., Week 1, Week 2, Week 8). The aim of this proof-of-concept study is to provide preliminary data to examine whether this approach is feasible and has clinical potential for patients with binge eating disorder.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
38
The intervention, Binge Focused Therapy, is a 3-session, 8-week, non-expert guided self-help program. Participants will attend sessions at Week 1, Week 2, and Week 8 at the Nova Scotia Health Authority Eating Disorder Clinic. Each session will be approximately 2 hours in length.
Nova Scotia Health Authority
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Change in Binge Eating Frequency
Self-reported binge eating frequency will be assessed with the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire 6.0 (EDE-Q). Binge eating frequency is measured on item 15 of the EDE-Q.
Time frame: Baseline, Week 8, 1-year follow-up
Change in Binge Eating Severity
Self-reported binge eating severity will be assessed with the Binge Eating Scale (BES). The BES is a 16-item measure, each item has 3-4 coded responses. The total score ranges from 0-46, where a higher score indicates greater binge eating severity.
Time frame: Baseline, Week 2, Week 8, 1-year follow-up
Remission Rate
Remission defined as 100% reduction in binge episodes in the last 28 days of treatment phase preceding week 8, or in the last 28-days of follow-up phase.
Time frame: Week 8, 1-year follow up
Response Rate
Responders defined as ≥ 50% reduction in the number of binge episodes from baseline to either of the last two preceding weeks of treatment or follow-up.
Time frame: Week 8, 1-year follow up
Change in General Eating Disorder Symptomatology
Self-reported general eating disorder symptomatology will be assessed using the global score generated from the EDE-Q. The EDE-Q is a 28-item measure that assesses four areas of eating disorder psychopathology (eating concern, shape concern, weight concern, dietary restraint). Each item uses a Likert scale ranging from 0 (lowest frequency/severity) to 6 (highest frequency/severity). The global score ranges from 0-6 where higher scores indicate greater impairment. The global score is obtained using the mean of the four subscales.
Time frame: Baseline, Week 8, 1-year follow-up
Change in Locus of Control of Behaviour
Self-reported locus of control of behaviour will be assessed using the Locus of Control of Behaviour scale (LCB). The LCB scale is a 17-item measure. Participants respond to each item using a Likert scale ranging from 0 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). Total scores range from 0-85, with higher scores indicating a greater degree of externality.
Time frame: Baseline, Week 2, Week 8, 1-year follow-up
Change in Coping Self-Efficacy
Self-reported coping self-efficacy will be assessed using the Coping Self-Efficacy Scale (CSES). The CSES is a 26-item measure. Each item with be rated using a Likert scale from 1 (cannot do at all) to 10 (certain can do). An average score will be obtained. Higher scores indicate greater coping self-efficacy.
Time frame: Baseline, Week 2, Week 8, 1-year follow-up
Motivation/Confidence/Readiness for Behaviour Change
This will be measured using responses to three Likert-style questions that assess the perceived value of changing binge eating, confidence in ability to change binge eating, and readiness to change binge eating. Each item will be scored on a scale of 1 (not at all important/confident/ready) to 10 (extremely important/confident/ready). Each item will be assessed independently. Higher scores indicate greater motivation, confidence, and readiness.
Time frame: Baseline and Week 2
Depression, Anxiety and Tension/Stress
Self-reported depression, anxiety, and tension/stress will be assessed using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS). Participants will respond to 21-items each scored on a Likert scale from 0 (did not apply) to 3 (applied very much or most of the time). A total score ranges from 0-126 with a higher score indicating greater impairment.
Time frame: Baseline
Participant Satisfaction with Intervention
Participants will respond to 3 Likert-style questions on a scale of 1 (very poor) to 6 (excellent) and several open-ended questions asking about their perceptions of the program. Higher scores indicate greater satisfaction.
Time frame: Week 8
Week 3 - 7 Adherence
Participants' adherence to tracking binge frequency and use of defusion skills (i.e., Homework) between Sessions 2 and 3.
Time frame: Week 8
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