Mentalisation-based therapy for eating disorder treatment: protocol for a systematic review

Abstract

Introduction: Eating disorders (EDs) are complex psychological and physiological disorders that often co-occur in the presence of other mental health difficulties. Mentalisation-based therapy (MBT) offers a promising therapeutic approach for treating comorbid difficulties by fostering individuals' capacity to understand their own and others' mental states. More specifically, MBT is a novel approach for treating EDs that recognises the intricate interplay between psychological factors and disordered eating behaviours, targeting the underlying cognitive and emotional processes implicated in ED pathology. The possible value of MBT in treating EDs has been proposed, but the existing research on the topic has not yet been synthesised. This review aims to examine the effectiveness of MBT across diverse ED presentations through analysis of the peer-reviewed literature.

Methods and analysis: This systematic review protocol adheres to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses for Protocols checklist. The review will include peer-reviewed studies on MBT for EDs without geographical restrictions. A systematic search for the published literature will be conducted using the following databases: Medline, Embase, PsycInfo and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. For articles to be included, documents must describe and evaluate MBT for EDs and be a quantitative study. There will be no restrictions on publication date. The two authors will independently screen titles, abstracts and full-text articles. A meta-analysis will be conducted for data synthesis if at least three studies with comparable designs, populations and outcomes are identified. If studies are too heterogeneous, a narrative synthesis will summarise the results. The findings may contribute to a more nuanced understanding of MBT's role in ED treatment, with potential implications for clinical practice, policy development and future research endeavours.

Ethics and dissemination: Ethical approval is not required as all data are available from public sources. The results of this systematic review will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.

Prospero registration number: CRD42024421136.

Keywords: Adult psychiatry; Child & adolescent psychiatry; Eating disorders; Personality disorders.