{"title":"The efficacy of compassion focused therapy in eating disorders: a systematic review of the literature.","authors":"Melissa Stock, Lily Beaman, Ro Moreton, Clodagh Holland-Borosh, Hannah Hartland, Layla Hamadi","doi":"10.1186/s40337-025-01418-4","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) is an evolution-informed intervention designed to address high levels of shame and self-criticism, which are common in eating disorders (EDs). Given the mixed findings of current ED treatments and the absence of prior systematic reviews on CFT in this context, this review aimed to critically evaluate its clinical outcomes.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A systematic search of databases was conducted, including PsychINFO, MEDLINE, PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and Scopus. Grey literature databases were searched including CORE, PsyArVix Preprints, and BASE. The last search was conducted in February 2025. Studies were included where a quantitative outcome was reported following CFT in participants with any ED diagnosis, across the lifespan. A narrative approach was employed to synthesize the results and the Downs and Black (1998) checklist was used to assess the quality of included studies.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Twenty-three studies (8 randomized controlled trials, 2 uncontrolled trials, and 13 quasi-experimental) were included. Eighteen papers were English language, and most participants were adult females. Overall, CFT led to a reduction in ED core psychopathology, including across the EDE-Q subscales, as well as improvements in self-compassion and body image, and a decrease in shame. Evidence for change to body mass index was mixed. Results from trials varied in how effective this treatment was relative to other treatment modalities.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>There is preliminary evidence to support CFT as an effective treatment for adults with a range of ED diagnoses. However, the limited number of comparisons to evidence-based interventions and small sample sizes means there is limited evidence that CFT is as effective as current first-line treatments. Future research may benefit from larger sample sizes; direct comparisons of CFT to evidence-based interventions; standardizing outcomes; and exploring for whom CFT is most effective.</p>","PeriodicalId":48605,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Eating Disorders","volume":"13 1","pages":"235"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5000,"publicationDate":"2025-10-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Eating Disorders","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-025-01418-4","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"NUTRITION & DIETETICS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) is an evolution-informed intervention designed to address high levels of shame and self-criticism, which are common in eating disorders (EDs). Given the mixed findings of current ED treatments and the absence of prior systematic reviews on CFT in this context, this review aimed to critically evaluate its clinical outcomes.
Method: A systematic search of databases was conducted, including PsychINFO, MEDLINE, PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and Scopus. Grey literature databases were searched including CORE, PsyArVix Preprints, and BASE. The last search was conducted in February 2025. Studies were included where a quantitative outcome was reported following CFT in participants with any ED diagnosis, across the lifespan. A narrative approach was employed to synthesize the results and the Downs and Black (1998) checklist was used to assess the quality of included studies.
Results: Twenty-three studies (8 randomized controlled trials, 2 uncontrolled trials, and 13 quasi-experimental) were included. Eighteen papers were English language, and most participants were adult females. Overall, CFT led to a reduction in ED core psychopathology, including across the EDE-Q subscales, as well as improvements in self-compassion and body image, and a decrease in shame. Evidence for change to body mass index was mixed. Results from trials varied in how effective this treatment was relative to other treatment modalities.
Conclusion: There is preliminary evidence to support CFT as an effective treatment for adults with a range of ED diagnoses. However, the limited number of comparisons to evidence-based interventions and small sample sizes means there is limited evidence that CFT is as effective as current first-line treatments. Future research may benefit from larger sample sizes; direct comparisons of CFT to evidence-based interventions; standardizing outcomes; and exploring for whom CFT is most effective.
期刊介绍：
Journal of Eating Disorders is the first open access, peer-reviewed journal publishing leading research in the science and clinical practice of eating disorders. It disseminates research that provides answers to the important issues and key challenges in the field of eating disorders and to facilitate translation of evidence into practice.
The journal publishes research on all aspects of eating disorders namely their epidemiology, nature, determinants, neurobiology, prevention, treatment and outcomes. The scope includes, but is not limited to anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder and other eating disorders. Related areas such as important co-morbidities, obesity, body image, appetite, food and eating are also included. Articles about research methodology and assessment are welcomed where they advance the field of eating disorders.
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