Clinical Outcomes After Temperament Based Therapy With Support (TBT‐S): A 12‐Month Naturalistic Follow‐Up Study

Objective This study investigated clinical outcomes in a mixed sample of adult patients with an eating disorder (ED) after receiving Temperament Based Therapy with Support (TBT‐S) at a tertiary eating disorder clinic. Method A naturalistic 12‐month follow‐up study of 46 patients and 65 supports who received the 5‐day TBT‐S treatment was conducted. To evaluate treatment outcomes, linear mixed models were applied to self‐reported ED psychopathology, clinical impairment, anxiety, family functioning and body mass index (BMI), assessed at pre‐ and post‐treatment, and after 3, 6, and 12 months. Results Patients reported significant reductions in ED symptoms, clinical impairment, and trait anxiety immediately after treatment and at all follow‐ups. Patients with a BMI below 18.5 at admission reported an increased BMI after 3, 6, and 12 months. No significant differences in general family functioning were reported by patients or supports. Contrary to patient‐reported reductions in ED symptoms, there were no significant changes in ED symptoms as reported by supports. Conclusions Results reveal improvements across a broad range of clinical outcomes throughout the first year following TBT‐S treatment. Future research should employ controlled designs to more rigorously evaluate both the short‐ and long‐term effects of TBT‐S compared to treatment as usual.