Comparison of group and individual cognitive‐behavioral therapy for patients with bulimia nervosa

Abstract

Objective The clinical effectiveness of group and individual cognitive‐behavioral therapy (CBT) for bulimia nervosa (BN) was compared. Method Sixty BN patients from hospitals and general practitioners in Sydney, Australia, were allocated randomly to group or individual CBT. Forty‐four completed treatment (n = 22 in group CBT and n = 22 in individual CBT). Patients were assessed at pretreatment, posttreatment, and at 3 and 6 months follow‐up with the Eating Disorder Examination‐12 and self‐report questionnaires examining weight and shape attitudes (Eating Disorder Inventory‐2), social adjustment (Socail Adjustment Scale‐Modified), self‐esteem (Rosenberg Self‐Esteem Scale), and general psychopathology (Symptom Checklist 90R). Results The effects of group and individual CBT were equivalent on most measures. However, a significantly greater proportion of individual CBT patients than group CBT patients were abstinent from bulimic behaviors at posttreatment, but not at follow‐up. Discussion This has implications for the delivery of cost‐effective and clinically effective treatment for BN. © 2003 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 33: 241–254, 2003.