Binge-eating adolescent treatment (BEAT): Preliminary findings on efficacy and acceptance of a blended treatment program for youth with Loss of Control Eating: A within-subject waitlist control design.

Abstract Background: Loss of Control Eating (LOC) is the most prevalent form of eating disorder pathology in youth, but research on evidence-based treatment in this group is scarce. We assessed for the first time the efficacy and acceptance of a blended treatment program for youth between 14 and 24 years with LOC (Binge-eating Adolescent Treatment, BEAT). Methods: 24 youths (mean age 19.08 years) participated in three face-to-face workshops and six email-guided self-help sessions, followed by four e-mail guided follow up sessions, one, three, six and 12 months after the active treatment. All patients completed a two-weeks waiting-time period before treatment begin (within-subject waitlist control design). Results: The number of weekly LOC episodes decreased during both the waiting-time and the active treatment period and remained more or less on the same level during the subsequent 12-months follow-up. Abstainer rates, depressive symptoms, eating disorder pathology and appearance-based rejection sensitivity all improved from pretreatment to posttreatment and typically further improved during follow-up. Body weight in contrast remained more or less constant within the same period. Treatment satisfaction among completers was high, but so was the dropout rate of 45.8% at the end of the 12 months follow-up. Conclusions: This first blended treatment study BEAT might be well suited to decrease core symptoms of LOC, depressive symptoms and appearance-based rejection sensitivity. More research is needed to establish interventions targeted at reducing body weight change while at the same time holding dropout rates low. Trial registration: The trial was registered at the German Clinical Trials Register (ID: DRKS00014580; registration date: 21/06/2018)