Comparison of group climate in an eating disorders partial hospital group and a psychiatric partial hospital group

Women in an eating disorders partial hospital program and a psychiatric partial hospital program were compared on a self-report measure of group climate following a psychodynamic-interpersonal therapy group. Those with eating disorders experienced their groups as more engaged and as more avoiding than those in the psychiatric partial hospital group. Therapists may be able to use initial heightened engagement in eating disorder groups to counteract the tendency to avoid content.