title: Impulsivity-focused group intervention to reduce binge eating episodes in patients with binge eating disorder: study protocol of the randomised controlled IMPULS trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The core symptom of binge eating disorder (BED) is recurrent binge eating that is accompanied by a sense of loss of control. BED is frequently associated with obesity, one of the main public health challenges today. Experimental studies deliver evidence that general trait impulsivity and disorder-specific food-related impulsivity constitute risk factors for BED. Cognitive-behavioural treatment (CBT) is deemed to be the most effective intervention concerning BED. We developed a group intervention based on CBT and especially focusing on impulsivity. We hypothesise that such an impulsivity-focused group intervention is able to increase control over impulsive eating behaviour, that is, reduce binge eating episodes, further eating pathology and impulsivity. Body weight might also be influenced in the long term.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present randomised controlled trial investigates the feasibility, acceptance and efficacy of this impulsivity-focused group intervention in patients with BED. We compare 39 patients with BED in the experimental group to 39 patients with BED in the control group at three appointments: before and after the group intervention and in a 3-month follow-up. Patients with BED in the experimental group receive 8 weekly sessions of the impulsivity-focused group intervention with 5-6 patients per group. Patients with BED in the control group receive no group intervention. The primary outcome is the binge eating frequency over the past 4 weeks. Secondary outcomes comprise further eating pathology, general impulsivity and food-related impulsivity assessed by eye tracking methodology, and body weight. Additionally, we assess binge eating and other impulsive behaviour weekly in process analyses during the time period of the group intervention.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  This study has been approved by the ethics committee of the medical faculty of Eberhard Karls University Tübingen and the University Hospital Tübingen. Data are monitored by the Centre of Clinical Studies, University Hospital Tübingen.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  German Clinical Trials Register, DRKS00007689, 14/01/2015, version from 11/06/2015, pre-results.
authors.affiliation: Medical University Hospital Tübingen, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Kathrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schag
authors.affiliation: Medical University Hospital Tübingen, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Elisabeth J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Leehr
authors.affiliation: Medical University Hospital Tübingen, Institute for Clinical Epidemiology and Applied Biometry, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martus
authors.affiliation: Medical University Hospital Tübingen, Center for Clinical Studies, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bethge
authors.affiliation: Medical University Hospital Tübingen, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.affiliation: Medical University Hospital Tübingen, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zipfel
authors.affiliation: Medical University Hospital Tübingen, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Katrin E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Giel
mesh_terms: D056912:Binge-Eating Disorder / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D001835:Body Weight; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D012107:Research Design; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: binge eating disorder; cognitive behaviour therapy; cue exposure; impulsivity; randomised controlled trial