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Cognitive-behavioral therapy for subthreshold bulimia nervosa: A case series
C B Peterson1, K B Miller, M G Willer
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota Medical School, F282/2A West, 2450 Riverside Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55454, USA. peter161@umn.edu
Eating and Weight Disorders : EWD
|February 1, 2012
Summary
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) shows promise for treating individuals with subthreshold bulimia nervosa. This study found significant reductions in binge eating and purging behaviors after CBT treatment.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Eating Disorders
Background:
- The efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for individuals with subthreshold bulimia nervosa remains under-explored.
- Subthreshold bulimia nervosa presents with bulimic symptoms but does not meet full diagnostic criteria.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential effectiveness of CBT in treating individuals with subthreshold bulimia nervosa.
- To assess symptom reduction and remission rates in this population.
Main Methods:
- A case series design was employed, treating 12 participants with subthreshold bulimia nervosa.
- Participants received 20 sessions of CBT.
- Treatment completion and abstinence rates for binge eating and purging were tracked.
Main Results:
- 83.3% of participants completed the CBT treatment.
- At the end of treatment, intent-to-treat abstinence rates were 75% for objectively large episodes of binge eating (OBEs), 33.3% for subjectively large episodes of binge eating (SBEs), and 50% for purging.
- At one-year follow-up, abstinence rates were 66.7% for OBEs, 41.7% for SBEs, and 50% for purging.
- Improvements in associated symptoms were also reported by the majority of participants.
Conclusions:
- This case series suggests that CBT may be a beneficial treatment for individuals experiencing bulimic symptoms below the full threshold for bulimia nervosa.
- CBT appears to lead to sustained reductions in binge eating and purging behaviors.
- Further research with larger sample sizes is warranted to confirm these findings.
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