Self-Help for Recurrent Binge Eating

One program led to greater abstinence.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been shown to be effective for treating eating disorders with core symptoms of binge eating; however, few patients actually receive CBT in clinical practice.

Dr. Ruth Striegel-Moore and her colleagues at Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, designed a blended efficacy study to evaluate whether a manual-based guided self-help form of CBT (CBT-GSH), given in 8 sessions in a health maintenance organization over 12 weeks, would be more effective than treatment as usual (J Consult Clin Psychol 2010; 78:312). The treatment sessions were administered by masters-level professionals trained in intervention techniques.

The study group included 123 patients, 91.9% of whom were female; the mean age was 37.2 years. The patients included 10.6% with bulimia nervosa (BN), 48% with binge eating disorder (BED), and 41.4% with recurrent binge eating without BN or BED. Baseline, post-treatment and 12-month follow-up data were collected.

Twelve months after the sessions had ended, the self-help program resulted in greater binge abstinence (64.2%) versus treatment as usual (44.6%), measured by the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE). Secondary outcomes reflected greater improvements for the guided self-help group in dietary restraint, eating, shape and weight concern, depression, and social adjustment, but not weight change.

The authors concluded that the guided self-help form of CBT is a viable first-line treatment option for most patients with recurrent binge eating who do not meet diagnostic criteria for BN or anorexia nervosa.