An evaluation of a supervised self-help programme for bulimic disorders

✍ Scribed by Lorraine Bell; Lindsay Hodder

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2001
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 127 KB
• Volume: 8
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1063-3995
• DOI: 10.1002/cpp.281

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Self‐help programmes are recommended as cost‐effective initial interventions for the treatment of bulimic disorders. This is a report of the effectiveness of such a programme in routine clinical practice. Twenty‐one patients completed the programme and both pre‐ and post‐ measures. Patients were treated in a secondary mental health setting over an 11‐month period from July 1998 to June 1999. Outcome was assessed using standardized measures and records of symptom levels and drop‐out rates. Significant improvements in depression, bulimic symptom and severity were observed. Multi‐impulsive clients (as indicated by clinically significant scores on bingeing and two other areas of impulsivity) had similar levels of bulimia but higher depression scores pre‐treatment. They made significant gains in most areas but, despite reduction in depression scores, remained significantly depressed. They also made less improvement in disordered attitudes than non‐impulsive clients. A global measure of motivation did not predict drop‐out or outcome though numbers were small. Patients who used Getting Better Bit(e) by Bit(e) and received motivational enhancement sessions made a greater reduction in fasting behaviour and were less likely to drop out than those who used a more standard CBT programme, but these results could be due to other factors. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.