Predictors of relapse following successful dialectical behavior therapy for binge eating disorder.

OBJECTIVE

To identify predictors of relapse at 6-month follow-up for women with binge eating disorder (BED).

METHOD: Participants were 32 women with BED who had initially achieved abstinence from binge eating after 20 weeks of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) adapted for patients with BED. Posttreatment predictor variables included the subscales Restraint, Weight Concerns, and Shape Concerns from the Eating Disorders Examination (EDE), the Emotional Eating Scale score, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, body mass index, and early versus late age of binge eating onset.

RESULTS

The largest effect sizes for predicting relapse were found with early onset of binge eating and higher EDE Restraint scores.

DISCUSSION: Previous findings that earlier age of onset (age 16 years or younger) is linked to less successful treatment outcome are now extended to the 6-month follow-up assessment. The finding that higher restraint scores after treatment predict relapse adds to the literature concerning the role of restraint in patients with BED.