Compassion-focused group therapy as a transdiagnostic treatment for comorbid eating disorders and posttraumatic stress disorder: a pilot feasibility and acceptability study
Creators: name: Gnatt, Inge
name: Mackelprang, Jessica L.
name: Phillipou, Andrea
name: Williamson, Danielle
name: Nedeljkovic, Maja
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2025
Subjects: subject: Medicine
subject: Pharmacology
subject: Biotechnology
subject: Sociology
subject: FOS: Sociology
subject: Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Cancer
subject: Science Policy
subject: Mental Health

description: Trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) commonly co-occur with eating disorders (EDs), however, evidence-based treatments for individuals who experience these conditions concomitantly are limited. This pilot study aimed to investigate the feasibility and acceptability of a 10-week outpatient compassion-focused group intervention to treat comorbid EDs among individuals with current PTSD symptoms. Five women with an ED and PTSD symptoms (<i>M</i> = 33.40years, <i>SD</i> = 15.61) participated. Primary outcomes of interest were ED symptoms, PTSD symptoms and self-compassion.Participants provided qualitative feedback via semi-structured interviews. Participation was high, and all participants completed the programme. The group modality was viewed positively, and participants described increased engagement with compassion, greater ability to recognise and regulate emotions and reduced self-criticism. From baseline to endpoint, four participants reported reliable change on PTSD symptoms, and three on self-compassion. Three participants reported clinically significant change on PTSD symptoms and self-compassion. No reliable or clinically significant change was reported on ED symptoms. This study provides preliminary evidence that compassion-focused group interventions may be an acceptable and feasible treatment for people with EDs and comorbid PTSD symptoms. Research to assess long-term symptom change and refinement of content and delivery to optimise outcomes, is warranted. <b>What is already known about this topic</b>:
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms are prevalent among individuals with eating disorders (EDs) and are associated with poorer outcomes and relapse.Current evidence suggests that addressing symptoms of EDs and PTSD concurrently is feasible, acceptable, and may lead to longer symptom reduction than treatment focused on ED symptoms alone.Compassion-focused therapy (CFT) has shown promise for treating individuals who present with trauma symptoms and EDs in inpatient settings. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms are prevalent among individuals with eating disorders (EDs) and are associated with poorer outcomes and relapse. Current evidence suggests that addressing symptoms of EDs and PTSD concurrently is feasible, acceptable, and may lead to longer symptom reduction than treatment focused on ED symptoms alone. Compassion-focused therapy (CFT) has shown promise for treating individuals who present with trauma symptoms and EDs in inpatient settings. <b>What this paper adds</b>:
This study is the first to deliver a compassion-focused therapy (CFT) intervention adapted for individuals with comorbid EDs and PTSD symptoms in an outpatient group milieu.Results of the pilot study indicate that this treatment is feasible and acceptable for individuals with comorbid EDs and PTSD symptoms.CFT interventions may support individuals to develop skills that address psychological factors known to maintain both EDs and PTSD symptoms (e.g. shame, self-criticism and emotional dysregulation). This study is the first to deliver a compassion-focused therapy (CFT) intervention adapted for individuals with comorbid EDs and PTSD symptoms in an outpatient group milieu. Results of the pilot study indicate that this treatment is feasible and acceptable for individuals with comorbid EDs and PTSD symptoms. CFT interventions may support individuals to develop skills that address psychological factors known to maintain both EDs and PTSD symptoms (e.g. shame, self-criticism and emotional dysregulation).