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Control of Eating Behavior Using a Novel Feedback System
Published on: May 8, 2018
Cognitive Behavioral Treatment for Recurrent Binge Eating in Adolescent Girls: A Pilot Trial
Lynn L Debar1, G Terence Wilson, Bobbi Jo Yarborough
1Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, Portland.
Cognitive and Behavioral Practice
|May 7, 2013
Summary
This study shows that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) significantly reduced binge eating in adolescent girls. A high percentage of participants remained abstinent after treatment, indicating CBT
Area of Science:
- Clinical Psychology
- Adolescent Psychiatry
- Eating Disorder Treatment
Background:
- Disordered eating, particularly binge eating, is prevalent in adolescents and young adults.
- Effective, targeted interventions are needed for this demographic.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and test an adolescent-specific manualized cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) protocol for recurrent binge eating.
- To assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of this CBT protocol in a pilot randomized controlled trial.
Main Methods:
- A pilot randomized controlled trial was conducted with female adolescents diagnosed with recurrent binge eating.
- Participants were randomized to either the adolescent-specific CBT protocol or a treatment as usual/delayed treatment (TAU-DT) control group.
- Data on eating binges, treatment acceptability, and recruitment challenges were collected.
Main Results:
- The CBT group showed significantly fewer posttreatment eating binges compared to the TAU-DT group.
- 100% of participants in the CBT group achieved abstinence from binge eating at follow-up.
- The intervention demonstrated a large, robust effect size (NNT=2), comparable to major mental health interventions.
Conclusions:
- The adolescent-specific CBT protocol is a promising, evidence-based treatment for recurrent binge eating in female adolescents.
- The findings support the efficacy and acceptability of this adapted CBT approach.
- This intervention represents a significant advancement in addressing adolescent disordered eating.
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