An exploration of eating distress and traumatic experiences in women and the effectiveness of dialectical behaviour therapy

This doctoral thesis examines the effectiveness of dialectical behaviour therapy for eating disorders, and explores the lived experience of women with eating distress who also have a history of trauma. The first chapter uses meta-analytic procedures to critically review the current literature to determine whether dialectical behaviour therapy can be regarded as an effective treatment for individuals with eating disorders. The treatment effects across a range of measures were explored, as well as a discussion of the methodological limitations and recommendations for future research. The implications for clinical practice are also considered. The second chapter is an empirical study using a qualitative approach to explore the experiences of eating distress and trauma in women. Women were interviewed to determine their views on the development, daily experience and treatment of their eating distress. The clinical implications and recommendations for future research are discussed, including methodological limitations. The final chapter provides a reflective account of the author’s experience of conducting sensitive research with women with eating distress.