The Effectiveness of Schema Therapy on Food Cravings, Cognitive Flexibility and Food Attentional Bias in People with binge Eating Disorder

 Eating disorder is a common disorder that has not received much psychological treatment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of schema therapy on food craving، attentional bias to food، and cognitive flexibility in people with eating disorder. 

 This study was an experimental study with pre-test and post-test with control group. The population of this study consisted of 40 persons with eating disorder who were purposefully selected using Gormal Eating Questionnaire and General Health Questionnaire and clinical interview based on DSM-5 criteria. Subjects were randomly divided into two experimental and control groups. Pre-test was performed using craving questionnaire، cognitive flexibility questionnaire and researcher-made attentional bias assessment tool. The intervention consisted of 10 sessions of schema therapy. Data were analyzed using SPSS 23 software and MANCOVA method. 

 The results of this study showed that schema therapy had a significant effect on attentional bias، cognitive flexibility and food craving in people with overeating. The results remained stable at the 45-day follow-up after the posttest. 

 Based on the results، it can be concluded that schema therapy can be used as an effective treatment method in people with binge eating disorder.