Binge Focused Therapy: A Guided, Self-help, Group-based Approach for Binge Eating Disorder

Binge Focused Therapy: Examining an Accessible, Cost-effective, Guided, Self-help, Group-based Approach for the Treatment of Binge Eating Disorder

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.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 18 years or older;
• Meets DSM-5 criteria for moderate to severe Binge Eating Disorder (BED) as determined through screening interview by an eating disorder psychiatrist and validated with the Eating Disorder Diagnostic Scale (a self-report screening tool);
• Provides written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Currently receiving treatment for BED;
• Is taking a psychotropic medication (e.g., antidepressant, stimulant, etc.) AND the dose has been changed 2 weeks prior to baseline;
• Insufficient knowledge of English.