Early change predicts outcome in 10-session cognitive behavioural therapy for non-underweight patients with eating disorders: a secondary data analysis

ABSTRACT

Objective

Many studies have sought to identify predictors of outcome in eating disorder treatment. However, despite extensive investigation, the only consistent predictor is early change in eating disorder symptoms. Identifying predictors is an important research endeavour as doing so may assist with developing new treatments, improving existing interventions, and matching patients to treatments based on their characteristics at baseline.

Method

We conducted logistic regression analyses to examine potential predictors of good outcome, abstinence, and remission. Participants were treatment completers (N = 37) who were referred for 10-session cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT-T) for non-underweight patients with eating disorders.

Results

The only unique predictor was early change in eating disorder psychopathology. Specifically, greater early change was associated with higher likelihoods of being abstinent and in remission at 1-month follow-up.

Conclusions

The present study highlights the importance of pushing for early change in eating disorder treatment. Future studies are required to identify other consistent predictors.

KEY POINTS

What is already known about this topic:

1. In eating disorders, many variables have been examined as predictors.

2. Early change in eating disorder symptoms is the only consistent predictor that has been identified.

What this topic adds:

1. We examined whether baseline variables predicted outcome when early change was included as a predictor.

2. In line with previous research, early change was the only unique predictor.

3. Clinicians are advised to push for early change to help patients do better in treatment.

KEYWORDS:

• Predictors
• early change
• abstinence
• remission
• treatment outcome

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

The first author was supported by an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship.