Effectiveness of Binge Eating Disorder Treatments

Stanford University

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 4

Conditions: Eating Disorders

Treatments: Behavioral: Guided Self Help; Behavioral: Behavioral Weight Loss Treatment; Behavioral: Interpersonal Therapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT00060762

R01MH063863 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

DSIR 83-ATAS

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study will evaluate the long-term effectiveness of interpersonal psychotherapy, behavioral weight loss interventions, and guided self help treatments in treating binge eating disorder (BED).

Full description

BED is a serious condition that is associated with psychiatric comorbidity, psychosocial impairment, and obesity. Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT), behavioral weight loss (BWL) interventions, and guided self help (GSH) treatments for BED have been evaluated, but the safest and most effective treatment has not yet been identified. This study will determine which of these three treatments is most effective in treating BED.

Participants are stratified by negative affect subtype and are randomly assigned for 6 months to one of three treatment groups: IPT, BWL, or GSH. IPT focuses on current interpersonal problems which are hypothesized to increase negative affect and lead to binge eating. BWL interventions involve the adoption of weight loss inducing behaviors. GSH is a shortened version of cognitive behavioral therapy that focuses directly on eating behavior. IPT and BWL patients have 20 treatment sessions; those receiving GSH have 10 sessions. Assessments are made pre-treatment, post-treatment, and at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months after treatment is complete.

Enrollment: 205 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• DSM-IV criteria for Binge Eating Disorder
• Body Mass Index (BMI) between 27 and 45

Exclusion criteria

• Body Mass index > 45
• Current psychosis
• Current bipolar disorder
• Alcohol or drug dependence within last 6-months

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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205 participants in 3 patient groups

Interpersonal Therapy

Experimental group

Description:

Interpersonal Therapy is a psychotherapy aimed at resolving interpersonal difficulties

Treatment:

Behavioral: Interpersonal Therapy

Behavioral Weight Loss Treatment

Active Comparator group

Description:

Behavioral Weight Loss Treatment is aimed solely at weight loss, however it has been shown to decrease binge eating

Treatment:

Behavioral: Behavioral Weight Loss Treatment

Guided Self Help

Active Comparator group

Description:

Guided Self-Help is a brief psychotherapy based on cognitive-behavioral treatment

Treatment:

Behavioral: Guided Self Help