Therapeutic alliance in two forms of guided self-help for binge eating

Clin Psychol Psychother. 2024 Jan-Feb;31(1):e2959. doi: 10.1002/cpp.2959.ABSTRACTThe role of therapeutic alliance within psychological treatments for eating disorders (EDs), including those delivered remotely, is well established. However, few studies have investigated alliance in guided self-help, a widely recommended first-line treatment for EDs characterised by regular binge eating. Using data from a randomised controlled trial, the current study examined both facilitator and patient assessments of alliance within e-mail-assisted and face-to-face guided self-help and looked at associations between alliance, ED symptoms and ED-related impairment. One hundred thirteen patients and 11 facilitators completed measures of alliance during and following a course of guided self-help. Whilst ratings were reliable across patients and facilitators, alliance scores were higher both in the patient sample and in the face-to-face condition. Ratings of alliance showed no correlations with ED symptoms at post-treatment, and early alliance was not significantly associated with outcome, which could inform how early symptom change is encouraged in guided self-help.PMID:38344858 | DOI:10.1002/cpp.2959
Source: Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Source Type: research