Clinical trial NCT01208272: Psychological Treatment of Overweight Binge Eaters
Official title: A Randomized Comparison of Group-Behavioral Therapy and Group Interpersonal Psychotherapy for the Treatment of Overweight Individuals With Binge-Eating Disorder
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: PHASE1
PHASE2
Conditions: Binge Eating Disorder
Cognitive Therapy/Methods
Mental Disorders/Epidemiology
Obesity/Epidemiology
Obesity/Therapy
Keywords: Body Mass Index
Bulimia/therapy
Comorbidity
Interpersonal Relations
Psychotherapy/methods
Lead sponsor: Washington University School of Medicine
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2010-09-23
Enrollment: 162
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 65
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) has documented efficacy for the treatment of binge eating disorder (BED). Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) has been shown to reduce binge eating but its long-term impact and time course on other BED-related symptoms remain largely unknown. This study compares the effects of group CBT and group IPT across BED-related symptoms among overweight individuals with BED.

Detailed description: Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) has documented efficacy for the treatment of binge eating disorder (BED). Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) has been shown to reduce binge eating but its long-term impact and time course on other BED-related symptoms remain largely unknown. This study compares the effects of group CBT and group IPT across BED-related symptoms among overweight individuals with BED. METHODS: One hundred sixty-two overweight patients meeting DSM-IV criteria for BED were randomly assigned to 20 weekly sessions of either group CBT or group IPT. Assessments of binge eating and associated eating disorder psychopathology, general psychological functioning, and weight occurred before treatment, at posttreatment, and at 4-month intervals up to 12 months following treatment. RESULTS: Binge-eating recovery rates were equivalent for CBT and IPT at posttreatment (64 \[79%\] of 81 vs 59 \[73%\] of 81) and at 1-year follow-up (48 \[59%\] of 81 vs 50 \[62%\] of 81). Binge eating increased slightly through follow-up but remained significantly below pretreatment levels. Across treatments, patients had similar significant reductions in associated eating disorders and psychiatric symptoms and maintenance of gains through follow-up. Dietary restraint decreased more quickly in CBT but IPT had equivalent levels by later follow-ups. Patients' relative weight decreased significantly but only slightly, with the greatest reduction among patients sustaining recovery from binge eating from posttreatment to 1-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Group IPT is a viable alternative to group CBT for the treatment of overweight patients with BED. Although lacking a nonspecific control condition limits conclusions about treatment specificity, both treatments showed initial and long-term efficacy for the core and related symptoms of BED.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* DSM-IV research criteria for binge-eating disorder
* Average of greater than or equal to 2 days of binge eating per week for at least 6 months' duration
* Marked stress regarding binge eating
* At least 3 to 5 associated behavioral features (e.g. eating when not physically hungry) Other study criteria
* 18-65 years old
* Body mass index, 27-48 kg/m squared

Exclusion Criteria:

* Pregnant or planning to become pregnant
* Taking weight-affecting or psychotropic medications
* Psychiatric conditions warranting immediate treatment
* Current enrollment in psychotherapy or a weight loss program

Primary outcomes:
measure: To investigate the short and long-term efficacy of two treatments for binge eating among the overweight: Group Cognitive-Behavior (CBT) and Group Interpersonal Therapy (IPT).
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: New Haaven
country: United States
facility: Yale University
state: Connecticut
city: New Haven
country: United States
facility: Yale University
state: Connecticut
Study officials:
affiliation: Washington University School of Medicine
name: Denise E Wilfley, Ph.D.
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Wilfley DE, Welch RR, Stein RI, Spurrell EB, Cohen LR, Saelens BE, Dounchis JZ, Frank MA, Wiseman CV, Matt GE. A randomized comparison of group cognitive-behavioral therapy and group interpersonal psychotherapy for the treatment of overweight individuals with binge-eating disorder. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2002 Aug;59(8):713-21. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.59.8.713.
citation: Hilbert A, Bishop ME, Stein RI, Tanofsky-Kraff M, Swenson AK, Welch RR, Wilfley DE. Long-term efficacy of psychological treatments for binge eating disorder. Br J Psychiatry. 2012 Mar;200(3):232-7. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.110.089664. Epub 2012 Jan 26.