A trial of a relapse prevention strategy in women with bulimia nervosa who respond to cognitive-behavior therapy.
OBJECTIVE
This study examines a relapse prevention strategy for bulimia nervosa (BN). Subjects in a multicenter BN treatment trial who initially achieved abstinence after a course of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) were told to recontact the clinic if they had a recurrence of symptoms or feared such a reoccurrence so that they could receive additional therapy visits.


METHODS
At the end of CBT, subjects whose scores on the Eating Disorders Examination indicated that they were abstinent from binge eating and purging, and therefore considered to be treated successfully, were assigned randomly to follow-up only or to a crisis intervention model. With the crisis intervention model, subjects would receive additional visits if needed.


RESULTS
None of the 30 subjects who relapsed during the follow-up sought additional treatment visits.


CONCLUSIONS
Simply telling patients with BN who appear to have been successfully treated to come back if they have additional problems, or fear that they are developing such problems, may be an ineffective relapse prevention technique. Alternative strategies, such as planned return visits or phone calls, should be considered as alternative relapse prevention strategies.
Mitchell
James E
JE
Neuropsychiatric Research Institute and the Department of Neurosciences, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Fargo, North Dakota 58107-1415, USA. Mitchell@medicine.nodak.edu
Agras
W Stewart
WS
Wilson
G Terence
GT
Halmi
Katherine
K
Kraemer
Helena
H
Crow
Scott
S
D000328:Adult; D002032:Bulimia / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016896:Treatment Outcome