A Brief DBT Skills Group for Bulimia Nervosa: A Feasibility Study

The focus of this thesis is eating disorders, specifically treatment outcomes for individuals with eating disorders. This thesis consists of three parts. The first part of the thesis is a systematic literature review on the treatment outcomes and dropout rates for men with eating disorders. Men with eating disorders are often excluded from research because of the low prevalence rates of eating disorders in men. The consequence of this is that treatment guidelines are developed based on research that has few, if any, male participants. This review aimed to review the currently available evidence on men’s treatment outcomes and dropout rates, and consider whether these are similar to women’s treatment outcomes and dropout rates. The clinical and research implications of the findings of the review are discussed. The second part of the thesis is an empirical paper on the feasibility of a 12-week Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) skills group for women with bulimia nervosa. The results showed significant improvements in the participant’s eating disorder symptoms and functional impairment following the intervention. Feedback from participants also suggested that the intervention was acceptable to clients. Limitations, clinical implications, and research implications of the study are discussed. The data collection for this study was conducted jointly with another trainee investigating the change in acceptance and mindfulness following a DBT skills group. The third part of this thesis is a critical appraisal that reflects on some of the issues that arose during the research process. This critical appraisal focuses on three topics, the practical problems that arose in the research, the group processes that were observed in the DBT skills groups, and the relationship between sexuality and eating disorders in men