The Feasibility and Efficacy of Emotion-Focused Therapy for Binge-Eating Disorder: A Pilot Randomised Waitlist Control Trial

Abstract Background: Research into psychotherapy for binge-eating disorder (BED) has focused mainly on cognitive behavioural therapies, but efficacy, failure to abstain, and dropout rates continue to be problematic. The experience of negative emotions is among the most accurate predictors for the occurrence of binge eating episodes in BED, suggesting benefits to exploring psychological treatments with a more specific focus on the role of emotion. The present study aimed to explore the feasibility and efficacy of individual emotion-focused therapy (EFT) as a treatment for BED by examining the outcomes of a pilot randomised waitlist-controlled trial. Methods: Twenty-one participants were assessed using measures of feasibility (recruitment, credibility and expectancy, and therapy retention), and efficacy (objective binge episodes and days, and binge eating psychopathology). The treatment consisted of 12 weekly one-hour sessions of EFT for maladaptive emotions over three months. A mixed model approach was utilised with one between effect (group) using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) to test the hypothesis that participants immediately receiving the EFT treatment would demonstrate a greater degree of improvement on outcomes relating to objective binge episodes and days, and binge eating psychopathology, compared to participants on the EFT waitlist; and one within effect (time) using a repeated-measures ANOVA to test the hypothesis that participation in the EFT intervention would result in significant improvements in outcome measures from pre to post-therapy and then maintained at follow-up. Results: Recruitment, credibility and expectancy, and therapy retention outcomes indicated EFT is a feasible treatment for BED. Participants receiving EFT demonstrated a greater degree of improvement in objective binge episodes and days, and binge eating psychopathology compared to EFT waitlist control group participants. When participants in the EFT waitlist control group then received treatment and outcomes data were combined with participants who initially received the treatment, EFT demonstrated significant improvement in objective binge episodes and days, and binge eating psychopathology for the entire sample. Conclusions: These findings provide further preliminary evidence for the feasibility and efficacy of individual EFT for BED and support more extensive randomised control trials.