Cue reactivity in bulimia nervosa: A useful self‐report approach

Objective: To examine the usefulness of a self‐report questionnaire in the assessment of cue reactivity among women treated for bulimia nervosa. Method: Subjects were women participating in a randomized clinical trial evaluating the additive efficacy of exposure‐ and non‐exposure‐based behavioral treatment to a core of cognitive behavior therapy, with follow‐up at 6 months post treatment. Complete data were available for 82 women. Cue reactivity was assessed using an adaptation of the Situational Appetite Measure (SAM). Results: Improvements in cue reactivity occurred over time for the sample as a whole, with greater improvements being associated with favorable treatment outcome and treatment modality (exposure based treatments associated with greater improvements). The best single predictor of abstinence at 6 months was abstinence at posttreatment. Conclusion: A self‐report questionnaire (adapted SAM) provided useful information regarding cue reactivity among women treated for bulimia nervosa, without the difficulties associated with in vivo assessment. © 2006 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2006; 39:694–699