Comparing a novel, virtual, group-based guided self-help to unguided self-help for the treatment of binge-eating disorder in adults: a randomized controlled trial

Binge Focused Therapy (BFT) is a 3-session, group-based, guided self-help treatment for binge-eating disorder (BED). In this parallel-group randomized controlled trial (RCT), adults with BED were randomized to virtual BFT or a traditional unguided self-help approach (Overcoming Binge Eating; Fairburn, 2013). Self-report measures were collected at baseline, week 6, week 10 (posttreatment), 6- and 12-month follow-up. We hypothesized BFT (n = 82) would lead to better BED outcomes and lower dropout than unguided self-help (n = 82). Our intention-to-treat analysis demonstrated a significant effect of treatment group on BED symptomatology (primary outcome; beta= - 5.04, p < .001, 95% CI [ - 7.57, - 2.52]), binge frequency (beta= - 3.24, p = .001, 95% CI [ - 5.22, - 1.26]), general ED symptomatology (beta= - 0.91, p < .001, 95% CI [ - 1.17, - 0.65]), clinical impairment (beta= - 6.27, p < .001, 95% CI [ - 8.78, - 3.77]), confidence to change binge eating (beta = 1.22, p < .001, 95% CI [0.56, 1.89]), BED remission (OR = 4.98, p = .003, 95% CI [1.72, 14.40]), and treatment attrition (beta = 0.456, p < .001), with the BFT group reporting greater improvements and lower dropout. We did not find evidence of a significant effect of group on binge-eating abstinence (OR = 2.01, p = .103, 95% CI [0.87, 4.64]). BFT may be an effective BED treatment that could overcome common barriers to treatment implementation and accessibility.