Internet-Based Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Bulimia Nervosa: A Controlled Study
- 1 February 2009
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Mary Ann Liebert Inc in CyberPsychology & Behavior
- Vol. 12 (1), 37-41
- https://doi.org/10.1089/cpb.2008.0123
Abstract
The object of this study was to examine the effectiveness of an Internet-based therapy (IBT) for bulimia nervosa (BN) as compared to a waiting list (WL). Sixty-two female BN patients, diagnosed according to DSM-IV criteria, were assigned to either the IBT or a WL. The control participants (WL) were matched to the IBT group in terms of age, duration of the disorder, number of previous treatments, and severity of the disorder. Assessment measures included the EDI, SCL-90-R, BITE, the TCI-R, and other clinical and psychopathological indices, which were administrated before and after the treatment. Considering the IBT, while the mean scores were lower at the end of the treatment for some EDI scales (bulimic, interpersonal distrust, maturity fears, and total score) and the BITE symptomatology subscale, the mean BMI was higher at posttherapy. Predictors of good IBT outcome were higher scores on the EDI perfectionism scale and EAT and a higher minimum BMI. Drop-out (after IBT 35.5% of cases) was related to higher SCL-anxiety scores, a lower hyperactivity, a lower minimum BMI, and lower TCI-reward dependence scores. At the end of the treatment, bingeing and vomiting abstinence rates differed significantly between the two groups. Results suggest that an online self-help approach appears to be a valid treatment option for BN when compared to a WL control group, especially for people who present a lower severity of their eating disorder (ED) symptomatology and some specific personality traits.Keywords
This publication has 19 references indexed in Scilit:
- Evaluation and deployment of evidence based patient self-management support program for bulimia nervosaInternational Journal of Medical Informatics, 2006
- Web-based screening and brief intervention for the spectrum of alcohol problems*1Preventive Medicine, 2004
- Effect of web-based depression literacy and cognitive–behavioural therapy interventions on stigmatising attitudes to depressionThe British Journal of Psychiatry, 2004
- Virtual reality in eating disordersEuropean Eating Disorders Review, 2003
- The use of palmtop computers in the treatment of bulimia nervosaEuropean Eating Disorders Review, 2003
- Use of text messaging in the aftercare of patients with bulimia nervosaEuropean Eating Disorders Review, 2003
- Computers, e-mail and therapy in eating disordersEuropean Eating Disorders Review, 2003
- Cognitive–behavioral self-help for binge eating disorder: A controlled effectiveness study.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1998
- A Self-rating Scale for Bulimia the ‘BITE’The British Journal of Psychiatry, 1987
- The Eating Attitudes Test: an index of the symptoms of anorexia nervosaPsychological Medicine, 1979