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Specialized Programs for Long-Term BED Recovery
Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is classified as “recurrent binge eating accompanied by the feeling of loss of control over eating without regular compensatory behavior [1].”
As of the DSM-V, BED is its own eating disorder category, a change most likely made due to its extreme prevalence as the most common eating disorder, which affects up to 7% of those with a disorder [1].
While the official diagnosis is new, the disorder certainly isn’t. Researchers have determined a few specialized treatment methods that have proven to be successful both immediately post-treatment, as well as long-term.
Effective Treatment Methods
The Traditional Route – Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is the current treatment-of-choice for BED, generally achieving “total remission from binge eating in more than 50% of patients [2].” This treatment method also reduces patient’s feeling of depression and overvaluation of body shape and weight and vastly improves their psychosocial functioning.
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CBT has proven to be successful independently but can also hold its own when compared to standard behavioral weight-loss treatment (BWL), providing statistical support for the need to treat both the physical and psychological aspects of BED [2].
Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT)
IPT was originally intended to treat depression but has been adapted for the treatment of both bulimia and BED. This treatment method focuses on “helping patients to identify and change current interpersonal problems that are hypothesized to be maintaining the eating disorder [2].”
IPT has shown to stack up against CBT in the short and long-term, showing a 79% remission rate for CBT and 73% remission rate for IPT at post treatment and 59% and 62% remission rates at the 1-year follow up [2].
A New Twist on an Old Classic – Guided Self-Help CBT (CBTgsh)
This method is a combination of self-work and therapy and involves individuals using a self-help manual as well as attending a few brief treatment sessions. This method has strong empirical support when compared to BWL guided self-help interventions.
Additionally, when compared to pure self-help, this method has shown to be more effective in “eliminating binge eating and reducing associated psychopathology [2].”
Both IPT and CBTgsh showed successful, and similar, remission rates immediately post-treatment. More importantly, however, is how both fare over time. In a 2-year follow-up, both treatments were able to maintain their improvement successfully and were proven to be “significantly superior to BWL in producing remission from binge eating [Wilson].”
Clearly, all three specialized treatment methods have been proven to be effective in treating BED in both the short and long-term. It is worth noting that, when compared to one another, IPT is not only proven more effective than BWL and CBTgsh in achieving remission, it showed “lower attrition rates (7%) compared with 28% and 30% for BWL and CBTgsh, respectively [2].”
It is important to note that, with similar treatment outcomes, individuals that have shown little effectiveness with CBT tend to do the same with IPT.
Researchers are constantly trying to find the perfect treatment method that reduces BED symptoms directly following treatment and long-after. Clinicians, it is important to stay up-to-date on the recent innovations and discoveries regarding effective treatment methods and strategies.
If you are an individual struggling with BED, a lot of these descriptions may have been confusing to you. If you are seeking out support and treatment for BED, the takeaway is to speak with your treatment team about what strategies they are using to foster long-term remission of BED symptoms.
About the Author: Margot Rittenhouse is a therapist who is passionate about providing mental health support to all in need and has worked with clients with substance abuse issues, eating disorders, domestic violence victims and offenders, and severely mentally ill youth.
As a freelance writer for Eating Disorder and Addiction Hope and a mentor with MentorConnect, Margot is a passionate eating disorder advocate, committed to de-stigmatizing these illnesses while showing support for those struggling through mentoring, writing, and volunteering. Margot has a Master’s of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Johns Hopkins University.
References:
[1] Fischer, S. et al. (2014). Short-term cognitive behavioral therapy for binge eating disorder: long-term efficacy and predictors of long-term treatment success. Behavior Research and Therapy, 58, 36-42.[2] Wilson, G. T. (2011). Treatment of binge eating disorder. Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 34, 773-783.
The opinions and views of our guest contributors are shared to provide a broad perspective of eating disorders. These are not necessarily the views of Eating Disorder Hope, but an effort to offer discussion of various issues by different concerned individuals.
We at Eating Disorder Hope understand that eating disorders result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. If you or a loved one are suffering from an eating disorder, please know that there is hope for you, and seek immediate professional help.
Published on October 9, 2017.
Reviewed By: Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC on October 9, 2017.
Published on EatingDisorderHope.com
The EatingDisorderHope.com editorial team comprises experienced writers, editors, and medical reviewers specializing in eating disorders, treatment, and mental and behavioral health.
