Remote treatment of bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder: a randomized trial of Internet-assisted cognitive behavioural therapy.
The present study investigated the efficacy of self-help based on cognitive behaviour therapy in combination with Internet support in the treatment of bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. After confirming the diagnosis with an in-person interview, 73 patients were randomly allocated to treatment or a waiting list control group. Treated individuals showed marked improvement after 12 weeks of self-help compared to the control group on both primary and secondary outcome measures. Intent-to-treat analyses revealed that 37% (46% among completers) had no binge eating or purging at the end of the treatment and a considerable number of patients achieved clinically significant improvement on most of the other measures as well. The results were maintained at the 6-month follow-up, and provide evidence to support the continued use and development of self-help programmes.
Ljotsson
B
B
Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Section of Psychiatry, Karolinska Institute, SE-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden.
Lundin
C
C
Mitsell
K
K
Carlbring
P
P
Ramklint
M
M
Ghaderi
A
A
D000328:Adult; D002032:Bulimia / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000379:methods*; D012648:Self Care; D016896:Treatment Outcome