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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2022 Feb;27(1):189-198.
doi: 10.1007/s40519-021-01161-0. Epub 2021 Mar 13.

Self-esteem as a catalyst for change in adolescent inpatients with anorexia nervosa: a pilot randomised controlled trial

Hannah Biney  1 , Emma Giles  1 , Matt Hutt  1 , Rachel Matthews  1 , J Hubert Lacey  2   3
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Self-esteem as a catalyst for change in adolescent inpatients with anorexia nervosa: a pilot randomised controlled trial

Hannah Biney et al. Eat Weight Disord. 2022 Feb.

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the potential effectiveness of a six-session manualised self-esteem group using CBT approaches when given as an adjuvant to adolescent inpatients with Anorexia Nervosa (AN).

Methods: Using a randomised controlled design, 50 girls aged 12-17 years with AN were assigned to either self-esteem group with treatment as usual (TAU) (n = 25) or TAU alone (n = 25). 50/78 (64%) consented to be randomised. Both groups completed self-report measures of self-esteem and eating disorder psychopathology at three time points to measure the potential effectiveness of the treatment. Qualitative feedback was collected to assess acceptability.

Results: 29 participants completed the study: 15 self-esteem group with TAU, 14 TAU alone. Self-esteem group participants had greater improvement in all outcomes than TAU participants at all time points, the difference in self-report self-esteem at T2 is 1.12 (95% CI - 1.44-3.69; effect size = 0.21). Similar small effect sizes were found for the eating disorder psychopathology measure following completion of the intervention but not at four-week follow-up. Favourable qualitative feedback was gained.

Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that the self-esteem group supplements an intensive treatment package which also addresses elements of low self-esteem. The self-esteem group was beneficial for addressing self-esteem and acted as a catalyst for change in eating disorder psychopathology. Positive qualitative feedback indicated the intervention was acceptable to users. Self-esteem group is a potential new adjuvant treatment for AN.

Emb rating: Level 1.

Keywords: Adolescents; Anorexia nervosa; CBT; Group therapy; Self-esteem.

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Conflict of interest statement

None of the authors have any financial or non-financial interest or connection, direct or indirect or know of any situation which might question or suggest bias in this work or the conclusions, implications or opinions stated.

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