Randomised Controlled Study on the Use of Psychoeducation for Bulimia Nervosa in Young Women

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectivity of guided self-help via Internet and bibliotherapy in the treatment of bulimia nervosa (BN) in young women.

Detailed Description
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Eating disorders and especially bulimia nervosa are psychiatric diseases, affecting 2-4% of women. An intervention such as guided self-help via manuals (bibliotherapy) is a well accepted approach and accepted. Development of new technologies in recent years allows delivery of psychotherapy via CD-ROMs and web-based interfaces. These new technologies have not yet been implemented in Austria in treating bulimia nervosa (BN) patients. In particular patients will be involved, who would not attend medical care regularly. The aim of our study is therefore to deliver guided self-help via an internet platform (supported by email contacts) for 100 patients with BN and to investigate the practicability and effectivity of this approach as well as compliance of patients in this group. Patients will be found and contacted via internet, get specialized medical investigations, medical care and support via emails. As control group 100 patients with bulimia are treated with bibliotherapy only. Beside effectivity, predictors of outcome (clinical, comorbidity, indication to change, personality) are investigated. The proposed study is a randomised controlled trial for effectivity and practicability of new technologies in psychiatric treatment research. This is not a psychotherapy study but a study on psychoeducation, an approach which offers new and helpful opportunities for this patient group.

Official Title
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RCT on the Use of Psychoeducation for Bulimia Nervosa in Young Women

Conditions
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Bulimia Nervosa

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Guided Self-help for Bulimia nervosa


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Clinical diagnosis of bulimia nervosa purging-type BMI > 18 or age corresponding BMI in patients younger than 18y. Access to Internet available Exclusion Criteria: Severe depression, alcohol- or drug abuse acute suicidality

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 16 Years
Maximum Age: 30 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Other
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: Internet-based self-help<br>Internet-based self-help behavioural | Behavioral: Guided Self-help for Bulimia nervosa<br>* bibliotherapy<br>|
| Active Comparator: Bibliotherapy<br>bibliotherapy | Behavioral: Guided Self-help for Bulimia nervosa<br>* bibliotherapy<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Eating disorder symptomatology after 3 months and after 7 months | Eating disorder symptomatology after 3 months and after 7 months | december 2009 | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Predictors for best outcome | Predictors for best outcome | december 2009 | 
| motivation for change | motivation for change | dec 2009 | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Bulimia nervosa, Guided Self-help, Psycho-education