A Systematic Review Of Narrative Therapy Treatment Outcomes For Eating Disorders

Course overview

Course Description: This course is based on material published in the Journal of Eating Disorders and is available as an open-access article. Narrative therapy has been proposed to have practice-based evidence however little is known about its research evidence-base in the treatment of eating disorders. The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the outcome literature of narrative therapy for eating disorders. Treatment outcome data were extracted from 33 eligible included studies following systematic search of five data bases. The study is reported according to Preferred Reporting items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Of the identified 33 studies, 3 reported positive outcomes using psychometric instruments, albeit some were outdated. Otherwise, reported outcomes were based on therapy transcript material and therapist reports. The most commonly reported treatment outcome was in relation to shifts in identity narratives and improved personal agency with a trend towards under-reporting shifts in ED symptoms. Some improvements were reported in inter- personal and occupational engagement, reduced ED symptoms, and improved quality of life, however, there was an absence of standardized measures to support these reports. This systematic review found limited support for narrative therapy in the treatment of eating disorders through practice-based evidence in clinician reports and transcripts of therapy sessions. Less is known about systematic treatment outcomes of narrative therapy. There is a need to fill this gap to understand the effectiveness of narrative therapy in the treatment of EDs through systematic (1) Deliveries of this intervention; and (2) Reporting of outcomes. In doing so, the research arm of narrative therapy evidence base will become more comprehensively known. This course on therapeutic outcomes of narrative therapy as a treatment for eating disorders is designed for social workers, professional counselors, psychologists, nurses, and substance abuse counselors, who do clinical work. In addition, this course is appropriate for intermediate and advanced-level practitioners who wish to develop their knowledge of therapeutic outcomes of narrative therapy as a treatment for eating disorders. The course material includes a literature review of interventions and research. It may also be useful for licensed clinicians who require continuing clinical education courses for license renewal. The course is based on a journal article that includes research. It contains statistical analysis and data that some clinicians enjoy reading and others do not. A significant benefit of reading research-based articles for continuing education is they provide practitioners with the latest findings in their field. Authors: Conti, Heywood, Hay, Shrestha, Perich Learning Objectives: This course will provide the practitioner with detailed information regarding therapeutic outcomes of narrative therapy as a treatment for eating disorders. Specifically, a professional will: Recognize benefits and limitations of current evidence based treatments for eating disorders. Describe characteristics of narrative therapy and its use as a treatment for eating disorders. Describe identity shifts and their relationship to eating disorders. Citation: Conti, J., Heywood, L., Hay, P., Shrestha, R. M., & Perich, T. (2022). Paper 2: a systematic review of narrative therapy treatment outcomes for eating disorders-bridging the divide between practice-based evidence and evidence-based practice. Journal of eating disorders, 10(1), 138. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-022-00636-4