Brief cognitive behavioural therapy for eating disorders symptomatology among a mixed sample of adolescents and young adults in primary care: a non‐randomised feasibility and pilot study

Objective

Brief and accessible therapies for people with an eating disorder is an important health target. Ten-session cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT-T) is a brief treatment evaluated in people with a non-underweight eating disorder. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of CBT-T for young people in primary care.

Method

This cohort pilot study used group (adolescents vs. young adults) by time (over four time points) Generalised Linear Mixed Model analysis. Participants included 13–25-year-olds attending an early intervention mental health service, receiving 10 sessions of CBT-T. Feasibility was assessed using recruitment, retention and satisfaction. Eating and other pathology measures were administered at baseline, weeks four and 10, and 12-week follow-up.

Results

Of the 63 commencing treatment, 38 completed 10 CBT-T sessions (60%). Most (94%) reported high treatment satisfaction. Significant reductions in eating pathology, depression and stress were found. Age group did not yield differences in CBT-T outcome, with large to very large effect sizes across outcome variables. Anxiety was associated with attrition.

Conclusion

This study provides preliminary support for the use of CBT-T in primary care, across adolescence and early adulthood. Findings require replication in other clinical settings and comparison to other clinical approaches and control populations.