Binge eating disorder in obesity: comparison of different therapeutic strategies

The aim of this study (duration: 12 months) was to compare different integrated therapeutic approaches for the therapy of Binge Eating Disorder (BED). A sample of 65 female severely obese BED was randomly divided into 3 groups: the first one was treated by Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT) alone; the second one was treated by SSRI antidepressant therapy (fluoxetine) alone; the remaining was treated by a combination of CBT plus fluoxetine. All groups received group nutritional training and individual dietary counselling. The initial fluoxetine dose (20 mg/day) was adjusted (up to 60 mg/day) according to frequency of binge eating. During the first 4 weeks, all subjects underwent an in-patient dietary treatment aimed to achieve at least a 5% weight loss, which was continued during the out-patient treatment phase. At the beginning and at the end of the therapy the patients were evaluated by the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality - 2 and by the Eating Disorder Inventory - 2. The results showed that the two groups which underwent psychotherapy resulted in a better outcome - in terms of number of bingeing episodes, maintenance of weight loss reduction from baseline and psychological well being - than the group treated with pharmacological therapy alone. Finally, the study underlines the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of Binge Eating Disorder.