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Pure and guided self‐help for full and sub‐threshold bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder
Author(s) -
Ghaderi Ata,
Scott Berit
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
british journal of clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.479
H-Index - 92
eISSN - 2044-8260
pISSN - 0144-6657
DOI - 10.1348/01446650360703375
Subject(s) - bulimia nervosa , binge eating , psychology , binge eating disorder , clinical psychology , psychiatry , eating disorders
Objective:The study compared the efficacy of self‐help without and with guidance (referred to as ‘pure’ and ‘guided’ self‐help), using a cognitive behavioral self‐help manual (Fairburn, 1995) for binge eating. Design and methods:A sample of 31 participants with bulimia nervosa, subthreshold bulimia nervosa and binge‐eating disorder were assigned randomly to one of the self‐help levels for 16 weeks, after four weeks of baseline observations. Results:The results indicated that both forms of self‐help treatments had a modestly positive and sustained effect on the participants' eating problems. Intention‐to‐treat analyses showed that participants reduced their mean number of objective bulimic episodes and purging behaviour by 33% and 17% over the course of the treatment. The corresponding reduction levels for the treatment completers ( N = 18) were 58% and 61%, respectively. Furthermore, there were no significant differences between the pure and guided self‐help groups in terms of outcome, reflecting the probable insignificance of guidance for the broader group of individuals with binge‐eating problems. At follow‐up, no further significant improvement or deterioration was observed in the ensuing six months compared with the post‐treatment data. Conclusion:Given the heterogeneity of the diagnostic groups in the present study, resulting in high external validity, and the conservative nature of the analyses, self‐help is discussed as a viable means of initial treatment for binge eating.