title: Cognitive-behavioral therapy versus combined treatment with group psychoeducation and fluoxetine in bulimic outpatients.
abstract: A series of 51 female bulimic outpatients, aged 23.4+/-3.9, were assigned either to Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or combined Group Psychoeducation and Fluoxetine (GPF) treatment. The Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) was performed at the beginning of treatment and after 6 months, together with the administration of self reported questionnaires for depression (BDI) and Anxiety (STAI). A significant (p<0.001) reduction of the number of monthly binge episodes (from 25.0+/-12.9 to 6.2+/-3.8 and from 24.8+/-9.1 to 8.0+/-4.3) for CBT and GPF respectively were observed. Similar reductions were obtained in the number of episodes of compensatory behaviors. Both treatments reduced depression and anxiety (p<0.001) while CBT only determined a significative improvement of EDE scores. The data obtained suggest that GPF is as effective as CBT in reducing bulimic symptomatology but its long-term efficacy should be evaluated in a follow-up study.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatric Unit, Department of Neurologic and Psychiatric Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ricca
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mannucci
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mezzani
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Bernardo
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Barciulli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moretti
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Cabras
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Rotella
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002032:Bulimia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008605:Mental Health Services; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D005473:Fluoxetine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors