The effects of psychoeducation on disturbed eating attitudes and behavior in young women with type 1 diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a six-session psychoeducation (PE) program on young women with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) and disordered eating attitudes and behavior. METHOD: Two hundred twelve young women attending a pediatric diabetes clinic were screened for signs of eating disturbance. Of these women, 130 passed the screening and were invited to participate in the intervention phase of the study. Eighty-five subjects were randomized to the PE or treatment-as-usual group. Assessments were conducted before and after treatment and at 6-month follow-up. RESULTS: Intention-to-treat group by time multivariate analyses of variance (MANOVAs) indicated significant reductions following PE treatment on the Restraint and Eating Concern subscales of the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) and on the Drive for Thinness and Body Dissatisfaction subscales of the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI), but no improvement in frequency of purging by insulin omission or hemoglobin A1c levels. DISCUSSION: The PE group was associated with reductions in eating disturbance, but not with improved metabolic control.