1. Randomized Controlled Trial of an Internet-Based Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment Program for Binge-Eating Disorder.
- Author
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Wagner, Birgit, Nagl, Michaela, Dölemeyer, Ruth, Klinitzke, Grit, Steinig, Jana, Hilbert, Anja, and Kersting, Anette
- Subjects
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BULIMIA treatment , *BULIMIA , *BEHAVIOR therapy , *DISEASE prevalence , *RANDOMIZED controlled trials , *PATIENTS , *COGNITIVE therapy , *COMPARATIVE studies , *INTERNET , *LONGITUDINAL method , *RESEARCH methodology , *MEDICAL cooperation , *QUESTIONNAIRES , *RESEARCH , *TELEMEDICINE , *EVALUATION research , *TREATMENT effectiveness - Abstract
Binge-eating disorder (BED) is a prevalent health condition associated with obesity. Few people with BED receive appropriate treatment. Personal barriers include shame, fear of stigma, geographic distance to mental health services, and long wait-lists. The aims of this study were to examine the efficacy of an Internet-based cognitive-behavioral intervention for adults with threshold BED (DSM-IV) and to examine the stability of treatment effects over 12months. Participants were randomly assigned to a 16-week Internet-based cognitive-behavioral intervention (n=69) or a wait-list condition (n=70). Binge-eating frequency and eating disorder psychopathology were measured with the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire and the Eating Disorder Examination administered over the telephone. Additionally, body weight and body mass index, depression, and anxiety were assessed before and immediately after treatment. Three-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up data were recorded in the treatment group. Immediately after the treatment the number of binge-eating episodes showed significant improvement (d=1.02, between group) in the treatment group relative to the wait-list condition. The treatment group had also significantly reduced symptoms of all eating psychopathology outcomes relative to the wait-list condition (0.82≤d≤1.11). In the treatment group significant improvement was still observed for all measures 1year after the intervention relative to pretreatment levels. The Internet-based intervention proved to be efficacious, significantly reducing the number of binge-eating episodes and eating disorder pathology long term. Low-threshold e-health interventions should be further evaluated to improve treatment access for patients suffering from BED. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2016
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