Predictors of early change in bulimia nervosa after a brief psychoeducational therapy

Appetite. 2009 Jun;52(3):805-808. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2009.03.013. Epub 2009 Apr 1.

Abstract

We aimed to examine baseline predictors of treatment response in bulimic patients. 241 seeking-treatment females with bulimia nervosa completed an exhaustive assessment and were referred to a six-session psychoeducational group. Regression analyses of treatment response were performed. Childhood obesity, lower frequency of eating symptomatology, lower body mass index, older age, and lower family's and patient's concern about the disorder were predictors of poor abstinence. Suicidal ideation, alcohol abuse, higher maximum BMI, higher novelty seeking and lower baseline purging frequency predicted dropouts. Predictors of early symptom changes and dropouts were similar to those identified in longer CBT interventions.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Alcoholism / epidemiology
  • Alcoholism / psychology
  • Body Mass Index
  • Bulimia / epidemiology
  • Bulimia / psychology
  • Bulimia / therapy
  • Bulimia Nervosa / psychology
  • Bulimia Nervosa / therapy*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Logistic Models
  • Mental Health
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Compliance
  • Patient Dropouts
  • Patient Education as Topic*
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Psychotherapy, Brief*
  • Substance-Related Disorders / epidemiology
  • Substance-Related Disorders / psychology
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult