MacDonald DE, et al. – This research sought to ascertain if the rapid change in emotion regulation speculated therapeutic outcomes, beyond the effects of rapid and substantial behavior change (RSBC). It was disclosed that people with eating disorders who rapidly improved their belief that they could effectively modulate negative emotions exhibited a greater tendency of achieving varied, good treatment outcomes. This data supported the formal inclusion of emotion regulation skills early in cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and encouraging patient beliefs that such strategies were beneficial.

Methods

• The enrollment consisted of patients with bulimia nervosa or purging disorder (N = 104).
• They completed ≥6 weeks of CBT-based intensive treatment.
• Hierarchical regression models ascertained if the rapid change in emotion regulation variables speculated the posttreatment outcomes, defined in three ways: (1) binge/purge abstinence; (2) cognitive eating disorder psychopathology; and (3) depression symptoms. Baseline psychopathology and emotion regulation difficulties and RSBC were controlled.

Results

• The rapid improvement in access to emotion regulation strategies conducted significant unique contributions to the prediction of posttreatment binge/purge abstinence, cognitive psychopathology of eating disorders, and depression symptoms.