Table 3.

Differences between Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for Binge Eating Disorder (BED) and the Comparison Control Treatment

Common Factors	DBT for BED	Comparison Control Treatment for BED
Therapeutic Rationale	Explicit link between emotional dysregulation & binge eating.	No such systematic linkage. General linkage between self-esteem and binge eating.
Rituals To Be Observed/Healing Setting	Focused homework review. Didactic instruction of new skills.	Sufficient focus to keep group running smoothly (e.g. group “rules” about not interrupting, etc); No systematic homework review or didactic instruction of behavioral skills, etc.
Opportunity to Express Emotions/Ventilate Problems	Explicit focus on emotional dysregulation and binge eating. Didactic material presented.	General focus on self-esteem and binge eating. Expression of feelings and problems is encouraged. No systematic or explicit linkage between emotions and binge eating.
Acquisition and Practice of New Behaviors	Behavioral Chain Analysis Systematic review of diary card. Systematic teaching of behavioral skills. Group commitment to abstinence.	No Behavioral Chain Analysis No systematic review of diary card. No systematic teaching of behavioral skills. No group commitment to abstinence.
Therapeutic Rationale	Linkage between emotional dsyregulation and binge eating.	General linkage between self-esteem and binge eating.
Positive Expectations and Hope for Improvement/Therapeutic Optimism	Therapists specifically rehearse positive expectations for change through eliciting patients’ verbal commitment to eliminate binge eating and practice skills.	Therapists present goal of eliminating binge eating but do not elicit verbal commitment.