Clinical trial NCT00877786: Online Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Bulimia Nervosa
Official title: Optimizing Technology in the Treatment of Bulimia Nervosa
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Bulimia Nervosa
Lead sponsor: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
First posted: 2009-04-08
Enrollment: 196
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: 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.

Detailed 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.

Eligibility criteria: 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

Primary outcomes:
measure: Abstinence from binge/purge episodes
timeFrame: 12 months
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Reduction of binge/purge episodes
timeFrame: 12 months
measure: Maintenance of behavior change
timeFrame: 12 months
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Chapel Hill
country: United States
facility: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
state: North Carolina
city: Pittsburgh
country: United States
facility: University of Pittsburgh
state: Pennsylvania
Study officials:
affiliation: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
name: Cynthia Bulik, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
affiliation: University of Pittsburgh
name: Marsha Marcus, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Watson HJ, McLagan N, Zerwas SC, Crosby RD, Levine MD, Runfola CD, Peat CM, Moessner M, Zimmer B, Hofmeier SM, Hamer RM, Marcus MD, Bulik CM, Crow SJ. Cost-Effectiveness of Internet-Based Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment for Bulimia Nervosa: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial. J Clin Psychiatry. 2018 Jan/Feb;79(1):16m11314. doi: 10.4088/JCP.16m11314.
citation: Levinson CA, Zerwas S, Calebs B, Forbush K, Kordy H, Watson H, Hofmeier S, Levine M, Crosby RD, Peat C, Runfola CD, Zimmer B, Moesner M, Marcus MD, Bulik CM. The core symptoms of bulimia nervosa, anxiety, and depression: A network analysis. J Abnorm Psychol. 2017 Apr;126(3):340-354. doi: 10.1037/abn0000254. Epub 2017 Mar 9.