EMDR vs. CBT in the Treatment of Inpatients With Obesity and Binge Eating Disorder: the EMDRDCA Study.

EMDR is based on the Adaptive Information Process (AIP) model, which posits that the traumatic event experienced by a subject is stored in memory along with the disturbing emotions, perceptions, cognitions, and physical sensations that characterized that moment. All this information is stored in a dysfunctional way within neural networks and unable to connect with other networks with useful information. The information enclosed in the neural networks, not being able to be processed, continue to cause discomfort in the subject, up to the onset of pathologies such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other psychological disorders. The goal of EMDR is to restore the adaptive processing of information in order to achieve the adaptive resolution by creating new and more functional connections.

CBT-E is based on the transdiagnostic theory for eating disorders. According to this theory, there is an overvaluation of shape, weight, eating and their control that people use to judge themselves which represents the core feature of maintaining eating disorder symptoms including binge eating. The goals of CBT-E are to increase the understanding of eating disorders, reduce weight concerns, and establish a pattern of regular eating by addressing the mechanisms that have been maintaining the eating disorder psychopathology including body image disturbances and reactions to life events and emotions. The goals of CBT-OB are to help patients to reach, accept and maintain a healthy weight loss by adopting a healthy lifestyle.