Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40156378›Full record

Trial reportThe International journal of eating disorders2025

eBEfree: Combining Psychoeducation, Mindfulness, and Self-Compassion in an App-Based Psychological Intervention to Manage Binge-Eating Symptoms: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Hugo Senra, Cristiana Duarte, Sérgio A Carvalho, Luís Simões, Cláudia Ferreira, Lara Palmeira, Marcela Matos, Marina Cunha, Paula Castilho, Bruno Sousa and 2 more

Registry-linked trialAbstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in The International journal of eating disorders, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT04101032 (eBEfree - an ICT Adaptation of BEfree), which is not on this map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT04101032 naunknown statusnot on this map

eBEfree - an ICT Adaptation of BEfree: an APP Delivered Programme Based on Mindfulness, Values, and Compassion for Binge Eating

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversity of CoimbraRan2019 to 2021Enrolled70ConditionsBinge-Eating DisorderArmseBEfree
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Hugo SenraInstitute of Electronics and Informatics Engineering of Aveiro (IEETA), University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal.ORCID 0000-0001-8054-6473
Cristiana DuarteSchool of Education, Language and Psychology, York St. John University, York, UK.
Sérgio A CarvalhoUniversity of Coimbra, Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive and Behavioral Intervention (CINEICC), Coimbra, Portugal.
Luís SimõesCoimbra Hospital and University Centre (CHUC), Coimbra, Portugal.
Cláudia FerreiraUniversity of Coimbra, Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive and Behavioral Intervention (CINEICC), Coimbra, Portugal.
Lara PalmeiraCINTESIS@RISE, CINTESIS.UPT, Portucalense University, Porto, Portugal.
Marcela MatosUniversity of Coimbra, Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive and Behavioral Intervention (CINEICC), Coimbra, Portugal.
Marina CunhaUniversity of Coimbra, Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive and Behavioral Intervention (CINEICC), Coimbra, Portugal.
Paula CastilhoUniversity of Coimbra, Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive and Behavioral Intervention (CINEICC), Coimbra, Portugal.
Bruno SousaOneSource Consulting, Coimbra, Portugal.
Luis CordeiroOneSource Consulting, Coimbra, Portugal.
José Pinto-GouveiaUniversity of Coimbra, Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive and Behavioral Intervention (CINEICC), Coimbra, Portugal.

Funding

Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia POCI-01-0145-FEDER-029081
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo develop and test the effectiveness of the eBEfree program, a 12-session app-based version of a previously tested psychological intervention (BEfree) that combines psycho-education, self-compassion, mindfulness, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to reduce binge-eating symptoms.

methodTwo-hundred participants with recurrent elevated binge-eating symptoms and a higher body weight were enrolled in a remote parallel-group randomized trial, of which 142 completed the initial assessment (70 in the intervention group). The end-of-treatment and follow-up assessments were conducted 12 weeks after the initial assessment and 26 weeks after the end of treatment, respectively. Intention-to-treat (ITT) analyzes were undertaken using frequentist linear mixed models and Bayesian hierarchical models to test the intervention effectiveness.

results43 (waitlist control) and 29 (intervention) participants completed the end-of-treatment assessment, showing a high attrition rate (51%). ITT analyzes showed the eBEfree program to be associated with a significant reduction in binge eating symptomatology from baseline to end-of-treatment (β = -9.49, ρ < 0.0001, g = -1.17), and from end-of-treatment to 26-weeks follow-up (β = -6.01, ρ = 0.04, g = -1.08). At end-of-treatment, the intervention was also associated with a decrease in body mass index and depression symptomatology, as well as an improvement in dimensions of self-criticism and mindfulness. More than 80% of participants rated the quality of the program as positive and helpful. DISCUSSION: This trial suggests potential benefits of the eBEfree program to help individuals manage symptoms of binge-eating more effectively, reduce weight, and improve well-being and mental health. The intervention benefits should be confirmed in future larger trials. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE: Treating binge-eating (BE) symptoms and associated comorbidities might be challenging for mental health services. Digital and app-based interventions can be a valuable resource to help people manage symptoms and improve well-being and mental health. The current trial suggests the potential benefits of an app-based intervention (eBEfree program) to help people reduce BE symptoms and develop psychological strategies to promote well-being and mental health.

trial registrationClinicaltrials.gov: NCT04101032 ("eBEfree-an ICT Adaptation of BEfree").

Indexed as

Acceptance and Commitment TherapyBinge-Eating DisorderBulimiaEmpathyMindfulnessMobile ApplicationsPatient Education as TopicPsychosocial InterventionAdultFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedTreatment OutcomeYoung Adultacceptance and commitment therapybinge‐eatingcognitive‐behavioral therapydepressioneating disordersmindfulnessrandomized clinical trialself‐compassion

Identifiers

PMID40156378
PMCPMC12232357

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.