A cognitive behavioural group treatment of bulimia.
This study describes a group treatment of bulimia using an adaptation of Fairburn's (1981) cognitive behavioural approach. Thirteen bulimic women with a self-reported average of 24 self-induced vomiting episodes per week were treated in two groups; each group met once a week for 16 weeks. The primary outcome measure was the number of self-reported vomiting episodes; pre- and post-treatment measures of eating attitudes, depression, assertiveness, and global level of psychological distress were also evaluated. Vomiting frequency decreased to an average 2.2 times per week (a 91% improvement) with seven patients abstinent by the end of treatment. Significant pre- to post-treatment changes were also demonstrated on measures of depression, eating attitudes, and assertiveness. Six-month follow-up data on 11 patients indicate a mean vomiting frequency of 3.8 per week; six patients maintained their progress. Although Fairburn had greater success using an individual cognitive behavioural approach, the results of the present study are promising for the development of a cost-effective treatment.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D003071:Cognition; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006963:Hyperphagia / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D014839:Vomiting