Compassion-Focused Therapy for Bulimia Nervosa in Women: Effects on Rumination and Early Maladaptive Schemas

Fatemeh  Momeni; Sasan  Bavi; Karim  Sevari; Zahra Eftekhar  Saadi; Ali  Khalafi

doi:10.18502/ijdo.v18i1.21061

Fatemeh Momeni Department of Psychology, Ahv.C., Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran
Sasan Bavi Department of Psychology, Ahv.C., Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran
Karim Sevari Department of Psychology, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran
Zahra Eftekhar Saadi Department of Psychology, Ahv.C., Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran.
Ali Khalafi Department of Psychology, Shad.C., Islamic Azad University, Shadegan, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijdo.v18i1.21061

Keywords: Self-compassion, Rumination, Bulimia nervosa, Women

Abstract

Objective: Bulimia nervosa is frequently associated with elevated rumination and early maladaptive schemas. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of compassion-focused therapy (CFT) in reducing rumination and early maladaptive schemas among women with bulimia nervosa.

Materials and Methods: This quasi-experimental study utilized a pretest-posttest control group design. Fifty women with a confirmed DSM-5 diagnosis of bulimia nervosa were recruited via convenience sampling from the Ahvaz Eating Disorders Association and randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n= 25) receiving compassion-focused therapy (8 sessions, 90 minutes each) or a no-intervention control group (n= 25). Rumination was assessed using the Rumination Response Scale (RRS), and early maladaptive schemas were measured with the 75-item Early Maladaptive Schema Questionnaire-Short Form. Data were analyzed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) in SPSS-25.

Results: After controlling for pretest scores, women who received CFT showed significantly greater reductions in both rumination (P< 0.001) and early maladaptive schemas (P< 0.001) compared to the control group. Large effect sizes were observed for both outcomes (η²> 0.70).

Conclusion: CFT is an effective intervention for reducing rumination and early maladaptive schemas in women with bulimia nervosa. These findings support the clinical utility of CFT in targeting core cognitive- emotional maintenance factors in this population and suggest that it may be a valuable treatment option for bulimia nervosa