A randomized comparison of cognitive behavioral therapy and behavioral weight loss treatment for overweight individuals with binge eating disorder.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and behavioral weight loss treatment (BWLT) for overweight patients with binge eating disorder (BED).


METHODS
Eighty obese patients meeting criteria of BED according to DSM-IV-TR were randomly assigned to either CBT or BWLT consisting of 16 weekly treatments and 6 monthly follow-up sessions. Binge eating, general psychopathology, and body mass index (BMI) were assessed before, during, and after treatment, and at 12-month follow-up.


RESULTS
At posttreatment results favored CBT as the more effective treatment. Analysis of the course of treatments pointed to a faster improvement of binge eating in CBT based on the number of self-reported weekly binges, but faster reduction of BMI in BWLT. At 12-month follow-up, no substantial differences between the two treatment conditions existed.


CONCLUSIONS
CBT was somewhat more efficacious than BWLT in treating binge eating but this superior effect was barely maintained in the long term. Further research into cost effectiveness is needed to assess which treatment should be considered the treatment of choice.
Munsch
Simone
S
Institute of Psychology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland. simone.munsch@unibas.ch
Biedert
Esther
E
Meyer
Andrea
A
Michael
Tanja
T
Schlup
Barbara
B
Tuch
Alex
A
Margraf
Juergen
J
D000328:Adult; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D015992:Body Mass Index; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D050177:Overweight; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology; D011599:Psychopathology; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013557:Switzerland; D015431:Weight Loss