Why RO-DBT Reaches Restrictive Eating Disorders

STUB — outline only. Expand before publishing.

Outline

Open with the AN patient who completed standard DBT and was unmoved
Lynch’s overcontrol/undercontrol distinction
Why anorexia is paradigmatically overcontrolled
The RO-DBT skill set vs standard DBT skill set
Evidence: Lynch trials, Project RefraMED
Where RO-DBT fits for ED
Limits and combination with FBT/CBT-E

Internal links: /blog/fbt-isnt-enough-dbt-ed, /blog/anorexia-ego-syntonic-identity, /blog/cbt-ar-for-adults

Frequently Asked Questions

What is RO-DBT?

STUB — Radically Open DBT, developed by Thomas Lynch, targets disorders of overcontrol (chronic depression, anorexia, OCPD, autism-spectrum overcontrol) using social-signaling, openness, and flexibility skills, in contrast to standard DBT's focus on emotion dysregulation and undercontrol.

Why is RO-DBT better for anorexia than standard DBT?

STUB — restrictive eating disorders are overcontrol presentations; standard DBT skills assume undercontrol. RO-DBT's targets (social-signaling, openness, behavioral flexibility) match the actual pathology.

What is the evidence for RO-DBT in eating disorders?

STUB — Lynch RCT in chronic depression with comorbid OCPD; Project RefraMED trial; growing literature on RO-DBT for AN-R.

How long does RO-DBT take?

STUB — standard protocol is 30 weekly individual sessions plus skills class.

Does RO-DBT work for ARFID?

STUB — limited specific evidence; conceptually applicable for the overcontrolled subset; should not substitute for CBT-AR as first-line.

Outline

Frequently Asked Questions

Small steps, real progress