title: A transdiagnostic comparison of enhanced cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT-E) and interpersonal psychotherapy in the treatment of eating disorders.
abstract: Eating disorders may be viewed from a transdiagnostic perspective and there is evidence supporting a transdiagnostic form of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT-E). The aim of the present study was to compare CBT-E with interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT), a leading alternative treatment for adults with an eating disorder. One hundred and thirty patients with any form of eating disorder (body mass index >17.5 to <40.0) were randomized to either CBT-E or IPT. Both treatments involved 20 sessions over 20 weeks followed by a 60-week closed follow-up period. Outcome was measured by independent blinded assessors. Twenty-nine participants (22.3%) did not complete treatment or were withdrawn. At post-treatment 65.5% of the CBT-E participants met criteria for remission compared with 33.3% of the IPT participants (p < 0.001). Over follow-up the proportion of participants meeting criteria for remission increased, particularly in the IPT condition, but the CBT-E remission rate remained higher (CBT-E 69.4%, IPT 49.0%; p = 0.028). The response to CBT-E was very similar to that observed in an earlier study. The findings indicate that CBT-E is potent treatment for the majority of outpatients with an eating disorder. IPT remains an alternative to CBT-E, but the response is less pronounced and slower to be expressed.
  ISRCTN 15562271.
authors.affiliation: Oxford University, Department of Psychiatry, UK. Electronic address: credo@medsci.ox.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Christopher G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Fairburn
authors.affiliation: Oxford University, Department of Psychiatry, UK.
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bailey-Straebler
authors.affiliation: Oxford University, Department of Psychiatry, UK.
authors.forename: Shawnee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Basden
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Health and Primary Care, Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, UK.
authors.forename: Helen A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Doll
authors.affiliation: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Oxford University, Department of Psychiatry, UK.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.affiliation: Oxford University, Department of Psychiatry, UK.
authors.forename: Marianne E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.affiliation: Oxford University, Department of Psychiatry, UK.
authors.forename: Zafra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Cooper
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cognitive behaviour therapy; Eating disorders; Interpersonal psychotherapy; Treatment