Review: medication and cognitive behaviour therapy control symptoms of bulimia nervosa
Question In people with bulimia nervosa, how do medication and cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) compare in controlling binge and purge frequency, depression, and eating attitudes?
Data sources
Studies were identified by searching Medline (1966–98) and PsycLIT (1974–98) using the terms bulimia, bulimia nervosa, treatment outcome, clinical trial, and double blind; references of studies were reviewed; and journals specific to eating disorders were searched for the previous 8 years.
Study selection
Studies were selected if they were randomised controlled trials of patients diagnosed with bulimia nervosa according to DSM-III criteria. Studies of pharmacological interventions had to be double blind and placebo controlled. Psychosocial studies could involve CBT, behaviour therapy, or exposure and response prevention, but for the purposes of this review, all were referred to as CBT.
Data extraction
Data were extracted on number of patients, treatment type …
