A sequenced group psychotherapy model for bulimia nervosa patients: A pilot study

The main objective with this study was to develop a sequenced treatment mod el for group psychotherapy with bulimia nervosa patients including cognitiv e-behavioural therapy and interpersonal psychotherapy techniques. This stud y comprises 29 participants in four successive treatment groups who meet th e DSM-IV criteria for bulimia nervosa or eating disorder NOS. All the parti cipants were measured pre- and post-treatment using the following instrumen ts: a semi-structured interview for eating disorder symptomatology (BAB.4.1 ), Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI-2), Symptom Check List (SCL-90), Beck's D epression Inventory (BDI), Coping Resources Inventory (CRI) and Body Mass I ndex (BMI). Ratings for the participants' weight phobia, bingeing and vomit ing decreased significantly. Significant pre- to post-differences were demo nstrated for EDI, SCL and CRI but not for BDI. A I-rear follow-up, includin g both clinical and self ratings, showed that the improvement was sustained and that progress seemed to have continued. In addition to post-treatment effects, now both BDI and the interpersonal sensitivity subscale of the SCL showed significant changes. The results suggest that there is reason to co ntinue the development of a sequenced treatment model based on CBT and IPT techniques and to test the model in a controlled study. Copyright (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.