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Sequencing of cognitive‐behavioral treatments for bulimia nervosa
Author(s) -
Davis Ron,
McVey Gail,
Heinmaa Margus,
Rockert Wendi,
Kennedy Sidney
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
international journal of eating disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.785
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1098-108X
pISSN - 0276-3478
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1098-108x(199905)25:4<361::aid-eat1>3.0.co;2-#
Subject(s) - bulimia nervosa , psychopathology , psychoeducation , cognitive behavioral therapy , psychology , randomized controlled trial , cognitive therapy , eating disorders , psychiatry , clinical psychology , cognition , medicine , intervention (counseling)
Objective This study investigated the efficacy of a stepped‐care trial of brief group psychoeducation (PE) followed by individual cognitive‐behavioral therapy (CBT) in the treatment of bulimia nervosa. Method Fifty‐six subjects first completed PE and were then randomly assigned to either a 16‐week trial of CBT (PE+CBT) or to no further treatment follow‐up (PE‐alone). Results Compared to PE‐alone, PE+CBT produced significantly greater reductions in the specific eating symptoms of binging and purging and significantly higher remission rates that were maintained over a 16‐week follow‐up. However, there were no differential treatment effects on measures of nonspecific psychopathology. Among PE+CBT subjects, remission in specific eating symptoms was associated with greatest improvements in nonspecific psychopathology. The outcome of nonremitted PE+CBT subjects and PE‐alone subjects was no different at posttreatment or follow‐up. Discussion These results provide limited support for offering individual CBT to subjects once they have completed an initial trial of group PE. © 1999 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 25: 361–374, 1999.