Deakin University, School of Psychology

Evaluating a stepped-care approach to binge eating treatment

This project aims to evaluate a stepped-care approach for the treatment of binge eating. All participants will initially receive a brief online psychoeducation intervention, with those who do not show an early response at 2-weeks subsequently randomised to either a digital cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) program, a digital dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) program, or a waitlist control. This study will assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of this stepped-care model in reducing binge eating symptoms.

Participants are recruited online via various social media, Dr Linardon's Break Binge Eating mailing list, and eating disorder organisations newsletters. Interested individuals will first be presented with the Plain Language Statement (PLS) and asked to provide signed consent electronically. Following consent, participants will complete an eligibility screening questionnaire. Inclusion criteria include: adults (18+), experiencing recurrent objective binge eating episodes, and fluent in English. Eligible participants will then proceed to complete the baseline survey.

BASELINE: Participants complete demographic and baseline measures of binge eating and related psychosocial outcomes. STEP 1: Immediately after baseline assessment, all participants will receive access to a brief single-session online psychoeducation module. 2-Week Assessment: Early response is assessed (≥70% reduction in binge eating frequency and ≥1.34-point reduction on the ED-15). STEP 2: Non-responders are re-randomised to digital CBT (40%), digital DBT (40%), or waitlist (20%). CBT/DBT participants complete a 6-week program with fortnightly assessments; waitlist participants receive their preferred intervention after the study. Early responders receive no further intervention until the end of the study, where they will receive both smartphone apps to thank them for their time. 8-Week Assessment: All participants complete final outcome measures.