Review of studies evaluating psychotherapy in bulimia nervosa: the influence of research methods.
The purpose of the study was to test if design and research methods of studies predict outcome results of bulimia nervosa. Fifty-seven articles on outcome of bulimia nervosa were found through MEDLINE and PSYCHINFO databases and 25 were included in the statistical analysis. Percentages of patients with a good outcome ranged from 24% to 74% with a mean of 51.1%. The variables best predicting outcome were time to follow-up and number of symptoms evaluated in definition of good outcome whereas dropout, design of studies, treatments, and sample characteristics did not predict significantly. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Clausen
Loa
L
Department of Psychology, Aarhus University, Denmark and Eating Disorder Centre, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark. loa.clausen@post.tele.dk
D002032:Bulimia / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D012107:Research Design