Online Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Bulimia Nervosa (CBT4BN)

University of North Carolina (UNC)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Bulimia Nervosa

Treatments: Behavioral: Cognitive Behavioral Group Therapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT00877786

07-2002

R01MH080065-01A1 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Details and patient eligibility

About

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Bulimia Nervosa (CBT4BN) is a research program funded by the National Institute of Mental Health and conducted by the UNC Eating Disorders Program and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based treatment and the gold-standard for treating bulimia nervosa. The current study aims to compare two forms of CBT: face-to-face group therapy and online group therapy via cbt4bn.org.

Full description

All treatment is conducted by trained professionals from either the UNC Eating Disorders Program (in Chapel Hill) or Western Psychiatric Institute (in Pittsburgh) who are experienced in the treatment of eating disorders.

Participants will participate in 16 1.5 hour long group sessions of group CBT over 20 weeks. Groups will include 5-8 participants, one or two co-therapists, and two sessions by a registered dietitian. Participants will be expected to complete self-monitoring forms which assess their mood and behavior. Groups will either take place face-to-face or online in a therapist-moderated chat group.

Enrollment: 196 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• DSM-IV criteria for BN
• Internet access at home
• Either off psychotropic medication for at least one month or on a stable dose of psychotropic medication

Exclusion criteria

• Any major medical condition that would interfere with treatment or require alternative treatment
• Alcohol or drug dependence in the last three months
• Current significant suicidal ideation
• Developmental disability that would impair the ability to use the internet program effectively
• Psychosis, including schizophrenia, or bipolar I disorder

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

---

196 participants in 2 patient groups

Face-to-face group therapy

Active Comparator group

Treatment:

Behavioral: Cognitive Behavioral Group Therapy

Online chat group therapy

Active Comparator group

Treatment:

Behavioral: Cognitive Behavioral Group Therapy