Experimental test of the affect-regulation theory of bulimic symptoms and substance use: a randomized trial.
OBJECTIVE
Conduct a randomized trial to test whether a cognitive behavioral intervention designed to decrease depressive symptoms produces subsequent decreases in bulimic and substance use symptoms.


METHODS
Female participants (N = 145) with elevated depressive symptoms were randomly assigned to a 4-session depression intervention or a measurement-only condition and assessed through 6-month follow-up.


RESULTS
Relative to control participants, intervention participants showed decreases in depressive symptoms. Intervention participants also showed significantly greater reductions in bulimic symptoms, but not substance use, and change in depressive symptoms mediated this effect for bulimic symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
The results provide experimental support for the theory that affect disturbances contribute to bulimic pathology, but do not support the affect regulation theory of substance use.
Burton
Emily
E
Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA.
Stice
Eric
E
Bearman
Sarah Kate
SK
Rohde
Paul
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D002032:Bulimia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009341:Negativism; D013334:Students; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology