RE: [eatingconcernsandcontextualpsychology] Re: Research in ACT and Eating Disorders
Great to hear what people have been up to. I wanted to
also let the group know of related ongoing work conducted by a group of us here
at Drexel, led by my colleague Meghan Butryn. We are
currently developing a manualized ACT-based treatment for combined AN & BN
groups (that we could share in the near future), and are about to begin a small
pilot study at the Renfrew Center to determine if adding weekly, group-based,
ACT therapy to intensive outpatient treatment-as-usual improves outcome. The
rationale is described in the attached manuscript.
Best,
Evan
Evan M. Forman, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Director of Clinical Training
Department of Psychology
Drexel University
245 N. 15th Street, MS 626
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Tel (215) 762-4021
Fax (215) 762-8625
Email evan.forman@...
From: eatingconcernsandcontextualpsychology@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:eatingconcernsandcontextualpsychology@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Rhonda
Merwin Sent: Friday, February 06, 2009 10:57 AM To: eatingconcernsandcontextualpsychology@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [eatingconcernsandcontextualpsychology] Re: Research in ACT
and Eating Disorders
Hi All, Nice to hear
all the conversation about using ACT with eating disorders!
I am currently
using ACT with my patients at the Duke Eating Disorders Program (indv and
group). I agree they pose some unique challenges -- and so the more
discussion the better! In terms of research, I am currently running an ACT body
image group with a mixed clinical sample (both in an outpatient setting and at
a residential treatment facility) and, as Alix mentioned, we have a grant
submitted for using ACT with adolescents with anorexia nervosa (separated
family therapy format)-- So there should be some data emerging soon! I also
have a couple of laboratory-based studies in the hopper that examine avoidance
of affective arousal (as well as some survey-based research on experiential
avoidance in this population). Fun stuff! I'll keep everyone posted as things
roll out....
Cheers, R _______________________________________
Rhonda M. Merwin, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Duke University Medical Center
PO Box 3842, Durham NC 27710
TEL: 919.681.7231 FAX: 919.681.7347
Pager: 919.970.2761
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Matt
Boone <saddmjv@...> Sent by:
eatingconcernsandcontextualpsychology@yahoogroups.com
02/06/2009
10:01 AM
Please respond to
eatingconcernsandcontextualpsychology@yahoogroups.com
[eatingconcernsandcontextualpsychology]
Re: Research in ACT and Eating Disorders
Hello
Thomas, Carla, & Alix,
I'm
thrilled to hear this research is going on. About 1/3 of the work I do is
with eating disorders and disordered eating generally. I find implementing
"full-ACT" particularly difficult with this group. What I mean is
this: with anxiety clients, it's easy to jump right into all of the processes.
It makes a lot of intuitive sense to the clients and gains appear almost
immediately, usually in the areas of diminished control, hope, and a
willingness to have some anxiety. But with eating disorder clients, I have
to start very slow. The motivation for change is low. Any sort of
mindfulness needs to be done very tentatively. It's very difficult to lead
someone through any kind of mindfulness exercise. Usually I just start with
short periods of physicalizing. Values conversations bring up tons of
fusion and a lack of willingness.
I'm curious to hear how it
goes for you all. I also would love to see some of your materials if you're
willing to offer them. More than anything, I like to start a conversation
on this list about working with eating disorders and ACT.
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