title: Cue exposure in the treatment of resistant bulimia nervosa.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It was hypothesized that binge eating (bulimia nervosa [BN]) may be caused by the anticipatory and immediate anxiety associated with certain types of food. Consequently, an extinction schedule should reduce binge eating.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cue exposure was carried out with 6 bulimic women who had responded poorly or not at all to the usual pharmacologic or cognitive-behavioral treatments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Binge eating and vomiting were almost totally suppressed in the 6 patients. Symptom suppression was maintained at two follow-ups, one at 4-20 months and another at 2.5-3 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cue exposure may be effective with BN that is resistant to conventional treatments. The anxiety associated with food plays an important role in provoking and/or maintaining binge eating. Motivation to change is likely to be an important mediator.
authors.affiliation: Servei de Psiquiatria i Psicologia Infantil i Juvenil, Hospital Clínic Universitari, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. jtoro@clinic.ub.es
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Toro
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cervera
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Feliu
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Garriga
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jou
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Toro
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D001143:Arousal; D002032:Bulimia / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D003463:Cues; D003887:Desensitization, Psychologic / Q000379:methods*; D004038:Diet, Reducing / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D009042:Motivation; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D017211:Treatment Failure