title: Randomized Controlled Trial of an Internet-Based Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment Program for Binge-Eating Disorder.
abstract: Binge-eating disorder (BED) is a prevalent health condition associated with obesity. Few people with BED receive appropriate treatment. Personal barriers include shame, fear of stigma, geographic distance to mental health services, and long wait-lists. The aims of this study were to examine the efficacy of an Internet-based cognitive-behavioral intervention for adults with threshold BED (DSM-IV) and to examine the stability of treatment effects over 12months. Participants were randomly assigned to a 16-week Internet-based cognitive-behavioral intervention (n=69) or a wait-list condition (n=70). Binge-eating frequency and eating disorder psychopathology were measured with the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire and the Eating Disorder Examination administered over the telephone. Additionally, body weight and body mass index, depression, and anxiety were assessed before and immediately after treatment. Three-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up data were recorded in the treatment group. Immediately after the treatment the number of binge-eating episodes showed significant improvement (d=1.02, between group) in the treatment group relative to the wait-list condition. The treatment group had also significantly reduced symptoms of all eating psychopathology outcomes relative to the wait-list condition (0.82≤d≤1.11). In the treatment group significant improvement was still observed for all measures 1year after the intervention relative to pretreatment levels. The Internet-based intervention proved to be efficacious, significantly reducing the number of binge-eating episodes and eating disorder pathology long term. Low-threshold e-health interventions should be further evaluated to improve treatment access for patients suffering from BED.
authors.affiliation: Medical School Berlin. Electronic address: birgit.wagner@medicalschool-berlin.de.
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.affiliation: University of Leipzig and Leipzig University Medical Center.
authors.forename: Michaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nagl
authors.affiliation: University of Leipzig and Leipzig University Medical Center, Integrated Research and Treatment Center (IFB) Adiposity Diseases Germany.
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dölemeyer
authors.affiliation: University of Leipzig and Leipzig University Medical Center, Integrated Research and Treatment Center (IFB) Adiposity Diseases Germany.
authors.forename: Grit
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Klinitzke
authors.affiliation: University of Leipzig and Leipzig University Medical Center, Integrated Research and Treatment Center (IFB) Adiposity Diseases Germany.
authors.forename: Jana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Steinig
authors.affiliation: University of Leipzig and University of Leipzig Medical Center.
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hilbert
authors.affiliation: University of Leipzig.
authors.forename: Anette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kersting
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D056912:Binge-Eating Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Internet-based; binge-eating disorder; cognitive-behavioral therapy; efficacy; randomized controlled trial