A comparison of two psychological treatments for bulimia nervosa.

Journal article

Two standardized psychological treatments for bulimia nervosa were studied. A cognitive behavioural approach was compared with a form of short-term focal psychotherapy. Twenty-four patients who met strict diagnostic criteria for bulimia nervosa were randomly allocated to the two treatments. All the interviews were tape-recorded so that checks on their content could be made. Assessments took place at the beginning and end of treatment, and at 4-, 8- and 12-month follow-up. None of the patients dropped out of treatment or follow-up, but 1 patient from each treatment group had to be withdrawn on clinical grounds. Patients in both groups made substantial improvements which were well maintained over the 12-month treatment-free follow-up period. The cognitive behavioural approach was superior to short-term focal psychotherapy in terms of its effect on the patients' overall clinical state, their general psychopathology and social adjustment, and their assessment of their outcome. © 1986.

Authors: Fairburn, C; Kirk, J; O'Connor, M; Cooper, P

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Behaviour research and therapy
• Volume: 24
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 629-643
• Publication date: 1986-01-01
• DOI: 10.1016/0005-7967(86)90058-6
• EISSN: 1873-622X
• ISSN: 0005-7967
• Language: English
• Keywords: Adult; Cognition; Social Adjustment; Bulimia; Behavior Therapy; Female; Psychotherapy, Brief; Humans