A Condensed Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Group for Binge Eating Disorder: Overcoming Winter Challenges

Abstract

Although binge eating disorder (BED) is a recent diagnostic category, research for efficacious and effective treatment is well underway. This case study describes a dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills group for BED implemented in an outpatient community clinic. Although based on Safer, Telch, and Chen’s (2009) manual for BED and bulimia nervosa (BN), notable adaptations included shortening the group’s duration from 20 to 12 weeks, adding an interpersonal effectiveness module and DBT-informed “Holiday Plan” worksheets, and providing inclement weather alternatives. Despite the added challenges associated with winter treatment of BED (e.g., holiday meals, weather-related schedule interruptions), the 3 women who completed treatment no longer met criteria for BED at termination and their feedback suggested that the treatment was highly acceptable. Group members demonstrated clinically significant reductions in disordered eating behavior and improvements in self-esteem, emotion regulation, and quality of life. Treatment gains were maintained at 1-year follow-up. Our discussion includes treatment implications and recommendations for future research.