A case series evaluation of guided self-help for bulimia nervosa using a cognitive manual.
OBJECTIVE
The current study examined the usefulness of a new, cognitive-based self-help manual for bulimia nervosa.


METHODS
Twenty people were provided with assessment and six sessions of guided self-help using the manual. Participants were assessed for eating-related behaviors and attitudes and psychopathology at pretreatment, posttreatment, and at the 3-month follow-up. Assessment instruments included the Eating Disorder Examination, Symptom Checklist-90-Revised, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Screening Test for Co-morbid Personality Disorders, and The University of Rhode Island Change Assessment. Data from 15 people were available at posttreatment and from 13 people at follow-up.


RESULTS
Using intention-to-treat analyses, binge eating, vomiting, four of the five eating attitudes and self-esteem significantly improved between pretreatment and posttreatment. At follow-up, there was continued improvement on all measures, with the exception of binge eating.


CONCLUSIONS
Guided self-help using cognitive techniques is a promising first-line treatment for bulimia nervosa, with further evaluation required in a randomized, controlled trial with long-term follow-up.
School of Psychology, Flinders University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.
Briony J
BJ
Pritchard
Jacqueline L
JL
Bergin
Tracey D
TD
Wade
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002032:Bulimia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003071:Cognition; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D001330:Electronic Data Processing; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008370:Manuals as Topic; D012648:Self Care; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires