Evaluation of a guided internet self-treatment programme for bulimia nervosa in several European countries.
OBJECTIVE
The purposes of this study were to evaluate the use of an online guided self-treatment programme for bulimia nervosa (BN) and to determine predictors of outcome. Data were collected in four European countries where the programme was simultaneously used.


METHODS
One hundred and twenty-seven BN or subthreshold BN female patients (mean age of 24.7 years) participated in a 4-month intervention using a CBT based online-guided self-help programme. Contact during the treatment period included weekly e-mails with a coach.


RESULTS
Measures included the Eating Disorders Inventory-2 (EDI-2) and the Symptom Check List-Revised (SCL-90R).


RESULTS
Severity of eating disorders symptoms and general psychopathology improved significantly. Twenty-three per cent of patients were symptom free at the end of treatment. The dropout rate was 25.2%. A better score of general psychological health was a predictor of a better outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
This study encourages further developments and research on innovative therapy approaches, particularly for those disorders such as BN, with difficult therapy and unclear prognosis.
Carrard
I
I
University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland. isabelle.carrard@hcuge.ch.
Fernandez-Aranda
F
F
Lam
T
T
Nevonen
L
L
Liwowsky
I
I
Volkart
A C
AC
Rouget
P
P
Golay
A
A
Van der Linden
M
M
Norring
C
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000628:therapy*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003376:Counseling; D034742:Electronic Mail; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult