The efficacy of a brief motivational intervention for individuals with eating disorders: A randomized control trial

Objective Individuals with eating disorders are often ambivalent about recovery, and previous research has shown that readiness for change predicts enrollment in intensive treatment, symptom change, dropout, and relapse. Given the demonstrated importance of readiness for change, researchers and clin...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The International journal of eating disorders 2011-09, Vol.44 (6), p.497-505
Main Authors: Geller, Josie, Brown, Krista E., Srikameswaran, Suja
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Adult and adolescent clinical studies
ambivalence
Behavior modification
Behavior Therapy - methods
Biological and medical sciences
clinical trial
Clinical trials
Eating behavior disorders
Eating disorders
Feeding and Eating Disorders - psychology
Feeding and Eating Disorders - therapy
Female
Humans
Medical sciences
Mental health care
Motivation
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Psychotherapy, Brief - methods
readiness
Self Concept
treatment
Treatment Outcome
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Summary:Objective Individuals with eating disorders are often ambivalent about recovery, and previous research has shown that readiness for change predicts enrollment in intensive treatment, symptom change, dropout, and relapse. Given the demonstrated importance of readiness for change, researchers and clinicians have turned to investigating interventions designed to enhance motivation. The purpose of this research was to determine the efficacy of Readiness and Motivation Therapy (RMT), a five‐session individual preparatory intervention for individuals with eating disorders. Method Participants completed the Readiness and Motivation Interview and measures of eating disorder symptomatology, self‐esteem, and psychiatric symptoms at intake. One hundred eighty‐one participants were randomly assigned to the treatment (RMT) or wait‐list control condition and were reassessed at 6‐week and 3‐month follow‐up; 113 completed assessments at all three time points and primary analyses were based on these individuals. Results Surprisingly, improvements in readiness for change, depression, drive for thinness, and bulimia symptoms occurred over time in both RMT and control conditions. However, at post and at follow‐up, individuals who received RMT were less likely to have high ambivalence than were those from the control condition. Discussion RMT may be of benefit to highly reluctant, clinically challenging patients and help them make better use of future, action‐oriented treatment. © 2010 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2011
ISSN:0276-3478
1098-108X
DOI:10.1002/eat.20847