Abstract
Approximately one quarter of people with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) also have an eating disorder (ED). Yet, there is scant research on interventions addressing PTSD and EDs (PTSD-ED) simultaneously. Two case studies illustrate the treatment of two women with PTSD-ED using Written Exposure Therapy (WET) for PTSD combined with targeted skills from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for Eating Disorders (i.e., dialectical abstinence, self-soothing, pro/cons, mindful urge-surfing, coping ahead). Data include pre-, posttreatment, and 6- to 8-week follow-up scores of PTSD and ED symptoms. Client One completed five sessions. At intake, she met criteria for PTSD and Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorder based on information gathered in a clinical interview and self-report measures. She reported reductions in both PTSD and ED symptoms at posttreatment and at a 6- to 8-week follow-up. Client Two completed seven sessions. At intake, she met criteria for PTSD and Binge Eating Disorder (BED) based on information gathered in a clinical interview and self-report measures. She reported reductions in symptoms of PTSD and BED at her final session and at a 6- to 8-week follow-up. Results from the presented case studies suggest WET for PTSD combined with DBT skills for EDs shows promise for reducing co-occurring PTSD and ED. Future studies should formally assess the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of integrated WET and DBT skills for the treatment of PTSD-ED.