Emotion Regulation Group Skills Training: A Pilot Study of an add-on Treatment for Eating Disorders in a Clinical Setting
Overview
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Eating Disorders
- Sponsor
- Region Östergötland
- Enrollment
- 39
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20)
- Status
- Completed
- Last Updated
- 6 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
Emotion regulation difficulties appear to play a role in the development and maintenance of several eating disorders. This pilot study aims at examining whether a short add-on group skills training in emotion regulation for young adults with different eating disorders is feasible in a psychiatric clinical setting. We also investigate if the treatment increases knowledge of emotions, and decreases self-reported difficulties with emotion regulation, alexithymia, symptoms of eating disorder, anxiety and depression, as well as clinical impairment.
Six skills training groups were piloted with a total of 29 participants (M = 21.41 years, SD = 1.92). The treatment consists of five sessions dealing with psychoeducation about emotions and emotion regulation skills training. Paired samples t-test was used to compare differences between before-and-after measures.
Investigators
Maria Zetterqvist
Prinicipal investigator
Region Östergötland
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •Being enrolled as a patient at the eating disorder unit at eh child- and adolescent psychiatric clinic in Linköping, Sweden
- •Having an eating disorder diagnosis as primary diagnosis.
- •Being between the ages of 18-25 years
- •Having sufficient knowledge of the Swedish language
Exclusion Criteria
- •Clinical diagnosis of schizophrenia
- •Clinical diagnosis of psychosis
- •Clinical diagnosis of severe autism spectrum disorder
- •Having a cognitive disability
- •Having ongoing drug or alcohol abuse
- •Clinical diagnosis of bipolar disorder
- •Insufficient knowledge of the Swedish language
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20)
Time Frame: Change from baseline at 5 weeks
Toronto Alexithymia Scale measures alexithymia. It contains a total of 20 items with 3 subscales (difficulties describing feelings: 7 items ranging from 7-35, difficulties identifying feelings: 5 items ranging from 5-25 and externally oriented thinking: 8 items ranging from 8-40). Total scores range from 20-100 with higher scores indicating higher levels of alexithymia.
Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q).
Time Frame: Change from baseline at 5 weeks
The Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) is the self-report version of Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) and measures the characteristics of eating disorders. The 6.0 version used in this study consists of 28 items. EDE-Q is scored on a 7-point Likert scale, from "no days" to "every day" and higher scores indicate higher eating pathology. The total score ranges from 0-196. The questionnaire comprises a total scale and subscales for restraint, eating concerns, shape concerns and weight concerns.
The Clinical Impairment Assessment Questionnaire (CIA)
Time Frame: Change from baseline at 5 weeks
The Clinical Impairment Assessment Questionnaire (CIA) measures the psychosocial impairment of eating disorders. It focuses on the last 28 days and consists of 16 items, graded on a Likert scale from "Not at all" to "A lot". Higher scores indicate higher level of secondary psychosocial impairment and the total scores ranges from 0-48. The CIA is designed to be completed immediately after filling in a measure of current eating disorder features that covers the same time frame (e.g., the EDE-Q).
Difficulties with Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS)
Time Frame: Change from baseline at 5 weeks
Difficulties with Emotion Regulation Scale measures difficulties with emotion regulation. It contains a total of 36 items that are rated on a Likert scale between 1-5. Total score ranges between 36-180 with higher scores indicating more difficulties with emotion regulation. The scale has 6 subscales: nonacceptance (ranging from 6-30); goals (ranging from 5-25); impulse (ranging from 6-30); awareness (ranging from 6-30); strategies (ranging from 8-40) and clarity (ranging from 5-25).
Secondary Outcomes
- Montgomery Åsberg Depression Rating Scale, self-report version (MADRS-S).(Change from baseline at 5 weeks)
- Beck's Anxiety Inventory (BAI)(Change from baseline at 5 weeks)