Combining Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy With Mindfulness Training in a Digital Intervention for Binge Eating Disorder: A Single-Session Pilot Trial.
Margaret Sala, Corey Roos, Hedy Kober, Jonathan B Bricker, Casey M Stern, Joshua Plutchik, Maya John, Angela M Haeny, Jonathan M Feldman, Mihaela Aslan, Jennifer L Hay, Evan M Forman
European Eating Disorders Review May 11, 2025 DOI: 10.1002/erv.3204 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 21 |
| Population | English-speaking adults who met criteria for binge-eating disorder |
| Intervention | Mindful Courage for BED |
| Duration | 60-minute intervention, 1-month follow-up |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Binge eating disorder Cognitive behavioural therapy Digital intervention Mindfulness meditation |
| Citations | 4 |
| Key points | A single-session digital intervention combining CBT and mindfulness training showed high acceptability and feasibility, with large decreases in binge eating episodes and binge eating scale scores at one-month follow-up. |
Abstract
Delivering a single-session treatment digitally can offer increased accessibility. We developed and tested a single-session digital intervention for binge-eating disorder (BED) combining cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and mindfulness training. English-speaking adults who met criteria for BED were recruited nationally. Participants completed a 60-min digital single-session intervention for BED. Our primary outcome was to evaluate initial acceptability (usability, overall satisfaction, engagement, visual appeal of content, understandability of programme material, desire to continue the programme, and overall helpfulness) and feasibility (intervention completion). We also evaluated changes in binge eating episodes, assessed via the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) objective binge eating episodes question, and eating disorder symptoms, assessed via the EDE-Q and Binge Eating Scale (BES). Acceptability measures were administered immediately after the completion of the digital module, while the BES and EDE-Q were administered at pre-treatment and at 1-month follow-up. All participants (N = 21) completed the intervention. Ratings for acceptability were excellent, with averages above a four on a five-point Likert scale on ratings for all dimensions. Participants reported large and significant decreases in binge eating episodes (d = 0.86) and BES scores (d = 0.91) as well as medium and significant decreases in global eating disorder symptoms at 1-month follow-up (d = 0.55). Results from this pilot suggest promising acceptability and feasibility for a single session of Mindful Courage for BED. This single session also appears to be preliminarily efficacious in reducing binge eating.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Relation to Quality of Life, Mood, Symptoms of Stress, and Immune Parameters in Breast and Prostate Cancer Outpatients Early-stage breast and prostate cancer patients | 2003 | Pre-post intervention study | n = 59 |
| Exploring self‐compassion and empathy in the context of mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) Community sample | 2010 | Pre-post intervention study | |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Lowers Psychological Distress In Medical Students Second-year medical students | 2003 | Prospective nonrandomized cohort-controlled study | n = 302 |
| Intensive meditation training, immune cell telomerase activity, and psychological mediators. Retreat participants and matched controls | 2011 | Controlled trial with wait-list control group | n = 60 |
| The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Training for Children with ADHD and Mindful Parenting for their Parents Children aged 8-12 with ADHD and their parents | 2011 | Within-group waitlist controlled trial | n = 22 |
Citations in the library
Cites 9
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 2004
- What defines mindfulness-based programs? The warp and the weft Psychological Medicine December 29, 2016
- A Randomized Controlled Trial of Mindfulness Meditation for Chronic Insomnia Sleep August 29, 2014
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression. Industrial Psychiatry Journal October 29, 2024
- Mechanisms of action in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) in people with physical and/or psychological conditions: A systematic review. Clinical Psychology Review July 2017
and 4 more in the library