Abstract
Despite the prevalence and health risks associated with eating disorders, research on the best empirically-supported treatments is inconclusive. Research has shown that few clinicians (approximately 13%) report adhering to a single therapeutic model when treating eating disorders. This lack of adherence to a single model is related to a phenomenon called treatment drift, which refers to the failure of clinicians to adhere to a treatment protocol, as outlined in research and treatment manuals. The present study aimed to explore if and why clinicians drift and other possible predictors of eating disorder treatment drift, including clinician mood, personality traits, attitudes towards evidence-based practice, and personal history with, or symptoms of, an eating disorder in a sample of 114 clinicians (97.4% female; mean age = 39.46). Results revealed that the majority (59.6%) of participants engaged in treatment drift and were aware of such deviations (71.8%). Though findings did not reveal the anticipated relationships between clinician factors and treatment drift, the results did demonstrate a conscientiousness and intentionality of treatment drift on behalf of the clinicians related to their clinical experiences. This broadened understanding of treatment drift may serve to help bridge the gap between research and practice, as well as guide clinical practice in the treatment of eating disorders.