The application of mindfulness to eating disorders treatment: a systematic review.

Author: Wanden-Berghe RG, Sanz-Valero J, Wanden-Berghe C.
Affiliation: Department of Community Nursing, Preventive Medicine, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain.
Conference/Journal: Eat Disord.
Date published: 2011 Jan
Other: Volume ID: 19 , Issue ID: 1 , Pages: 34-48 , Word Count: 125


The present study is an exploratory examination of the efficacy of the application of mindfulness-based interventions to the treatment of eating disorders. It employs a systematic review technique in which terms from the Psychological Index Terms of the American Psychological Association (APA) were chosen and analyzed in conjunction with Boolean operators. Using data obtained by the online consultation of references from 12 different bibliographical databases, 8 studies were included in the systematic review. Each study reported satisfactory results, although trial qualities were variable and sample sizes were small. Nonetheless, the current study found initial evidence supporting the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions to the treatment of eating disorders. The application of mindfulness-based interventions to the treatment of eating disorders remains a promising approach worthy of further research.

PMID: 21181578