A scoping review of integrated yoga and psychological approaches for the treatment of eating disorders

Abstract Background Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions that significantly impact the social and economic burden of mental ill health in Australia. Best practice treatment for eating disorders includes a multi-axial approach, including medical, psychiatric, and psychological approa...

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Main Authors: Jennifer O’Brien, Subhadra Evans, Shane McIver, Melissa O’Shea
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2023-09-01
Series:Journal of Eating Disorders
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-023-00845-5
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author Jennifer O’Brien
Subhadra Evans
Shane McIver
Melissa O’Shea
author_facet Jennifer O’Brien
Subhadra Evans
Shane McIver
Melissa O’Shea
author_sort Jennifer O’Brien
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions that significantly impact the social and economic burden of mental ill health in Australia. Best practice treatment for eating disorders includes a multi-axial approach, including medical, psychiatric, and psychological approaches. More recently, complementary and alternative therapy approaches, such as yoga, are used to support eating disorder recovery. Methods This scoping review identified and examined current research exploring the use of yoga alongside psychological approaches for the treatment and management of eating disorders across the lifespan. Results Results highlighted the lack of available research, with only four studies identified. Three of these studies piloted programs and identified promising results with a reduction of eating disorder symptomatology. However, these results remain tentative due to methodological limitations and the overall lack of available evidence. In the future, researchers are encouraged to clearly articulate the theoretical concepts that underpin their yoga programs and focus on adequately powered and designed trials, such as RCTs, to accurately compare treatment effects between interventions combining yoga with psychological interventions and standard psychological treatment. Qualitative enquiry is also recommended to provide further insights regarding what makes interventions successful. Conclusions Current evidence suggests further guidance and pragmatic recommendations to guide researchers and clinicians alike are required, ultimately improving outcomes for people experiencing an eating disorder across the lifespan.
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spelling doaj.art-ce3da679583d4fe78fe2af102066d2722023-11-19T12:07:48ZengBMCJournal of Eating Disorders2050-29742023-09-0111111410.1186/s40337-023-00845-5A scoping review of integrated yoga and psychological approaches for the treatment of eating disordersJennifer O’Brien0Subhadra Evans1Shane McIver2Melissa O’Shea3Deakin UniversityDeakin UniversityDeakin UniversityDeakin UniversityAbstract Background Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions that significantly impact the social and economic burden of mental ill health in Australia. Best practice treatment for eating disorders includes a multi-axial approach, including medical, psychiatric, and psychological approaches. More recently, complementary and alternative therapy approaches, such as yoga, are used to support eating disorder recovery. Methods This scoping review identified and examined current research exploring the use of yoga alongside psychological approaches for the treatment and management of eating disorders across the lifespan. Results Results highlighted the lack of available research, with only four studies identified. Three of these studies piloted programs and identified promising results with a reduction of eating disorder symptomatology. However, these results remain tentative due to methodological limitations and the overall lack of available evidence. In the future, researchers are encouraged to clearly articulate the theoretical concepts that underpin their yoga programs and focus on adequately powered and designed trials, such as RCTs, to accurately compare treatment effects between interventions combining yoga with psychological interventions and standard psychological treatment. Qualitative enquiry is also recommended to provide further insights regarding what makes interventions successful. Conclusions Current evidence suggests further guidance and pragmatic recommendations to guide researchers and clinicians alike are required, ultimately improving outcomes for people experiencing an eating disorder across the lifespan.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-023-00845-5Eating disordersYogaPsychological approachesYoga programsComplementary treatment approaches
spellingShingle Jennifer O’Brien
Subhadra Evans
Shane McIver
Melissa O’Shea
A scoping review of integrated yoga and psychological approaches for the treatment of eating disorders
Journal of Eating Disorders
Eating disorders
Yoga
Psychological approaches
Yoga programs
Complementary treatment approaches
title A scoping review of integrated yoga and psychological approaches for the treatment of eating disorders
title_full A scoping review of integrated yoga and psychological approaches for the treatment of eating disorders
title_fullStr A scoping review of integrated yoga and psychological approaches for the treatment of eating disorders
title_full_unstemmed A scoping review of integrated yoga and psychological approaches for the treatment of eating disorders
title_short A scoping review of integrated yoga and psychological approaches for the treatment of eating disorders
title_sort scoping review of integrated yoga and psychological approaches for the treatment of eating disorders
topic Eating disorders
Yoga
Psychological approaches
Yoga programs
Complementary treatment approaches
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-023-00845-5
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