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Implementation of a positive psychology group program in an inpatient eating disorders service: a pilot study

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Abstract

Context

Eating disorders (ED) are very difficult conditions to treat. Therefore, interventions in this field are shifting their main target towards the disorder’s impact in quality of life, rather than ED symptomatology in itself. In this sense, a focus in the promotion of positive emotions and well-being is emerging to ameliorate the harmful effects caused by ED. However, evidence of the potential benefits of this type of interventions is still scarce.

Purpose

This study introduces a 4-week positive psychology group program specifically designed for ED patients’ needs and to present data about feasibility and acceptability.

Method

Seven female inpatients of an eating disorder service aged from 13 to 38 years old attended the group. Measures of affect and optimistic thinking were taken before the program and after each session.

Results

The program was very well rated by participants, and there was no attrition. Furthermore, possible benefits were found in terms of optimistic thinking at the end of the group program, and these benefits were noticeable, but non-significant, in the case of affect.

Conclusions

This study opens the door to conduct larger and controlled studies for testing interventions aimed at promoting positive emotions and well-being in ED populations. Thus, these interventions could support the efficacy of current treatments in order to improve patients’ quality of life.

Level of evidence

Level IV, multiple time series analysis, with the intervention.

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Funding

Funding for the study was provided by grants: Red de Excelencia (PSI2014-56303-REDT) PROMOSAM: Research in processes, mechanisms and psychological treatments for mental health promotion from the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (2014); a PhD grant from Jaume I University (PREDOC/2012/51), and CIBER: CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición is an initiative of ISCIII.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. E-mental Health Research Group, School of Psychology, University of Dublin, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland

    Angel Enrique

  2. Department of Basic Psychology, Clinic and Psychobiology, University Jaume I, Castellón de la Plana, Castellón, Spain

    Juana Bretón-López, Guadalupe Molinari & Cristina Botella

  3. CIBER Fisiopatología Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Instituto Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain

    Juana Bretón-López & Cristina Botella

  4. Psychiatry Service, Consorcio Hospitalario Provincial de Castellón, Castellón de la Plana, Castellón, Spain

    Ginés Llorca

Authors
  1. Angel Enrique
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  2. Juana Bretón-López
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  4. Ginés Llorca
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  5. Cristina Botella
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Angel Enrique.

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Conflict of interests

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

We confirm that any aspect of the work covered in this manuscript that has involved human patients has been conducted with the ethical approval of all relevant bodies and that such approvals are acknowledged within the manuscript. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Provincial Hospital of Castellón (Spain; October 31st, 2014).

Informed consent

All the patients signed an informed consent form, and in the case of under-age patients, this consent form was signed by their parents.

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Enrique, A., Bretón-López, J., Molinari, G. et al. Implementation of a positive psychology group program in an inpatient eating disorders service: a pilot study. Eat Weight Disord 26, 679–688 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-020-00908-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-020-00908-5

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