Eating disorders (EDs) are severe psychiatric disorders, characterized by a persistent
disturbance of eating which impairs health or psychosocial functioning and causes loss of
quality of life. There are several evidence-based forms of treatment, but outcomes are
mediocre at best. Previous research found better treatment outcomes with several baseline
predictors, such as greater motivation to recover. Research on motivation to change has
indicated that autonomous motivated (AM) individuals show better response to treatments
for EDs. However, being highly motivated for change, but not experiencing the capacity to
really eat more and to deal with the emotions evoked by the process of recovery, might
lead to difficulty to change key-behaviors, thus leading to less positive treatment
outcome. Several researchers emphasized the importance of self-efficacy as a predictor in
eating attitudes and behaviors. This study focuses on whether self-efficacy at the start
of treatment is predictive of treatment outcome, measured by the ED-15 questionnaire in
patients with an ED. Data will be obtained during CBT-T; a brief (10 sessions) version of
cognitive behavioral therapy for eating disorders like BN, BED and OSFED. In CBT-T
patients are encouraged, from the start of treatment, to challenge their fears,
experience the effect of exposure and motivating them to carry through. This aspect might
enlarge patients' experience of self-efficacy. Patients with low level of self-efficacy
at start, but higher level of self-efficacy after four sessions, might benefit better
from treatment, then patients with lower levels of self-efficacy throughout the
treatment. To study this potential effect of treatment on self-efficacy, self-efficacy
will be measured at start of treatment, at session four and at the end of treatment.
Self-efficacy, self-esteem and autonomous motivation are concepts that are closely linked
to each other. To test if they are positively correlated at start of treatment,
measurements covering these concepts will be included at T0.
HYPOTHESES
Primary hypotheses:
Higher levels of self-efficacy will positively predict a more positive treatment outcome
as determined by lower eating pathology levels with the ED-15.
Secondary hypotheses:
Self-efficacy in itself will improve during treatment.
Autonomous motivation, self-esteem and self-efficacy will be positively correlated.
