Compliance with a self-care manual in guided self-change for bulimia nervosa

Objective: To investigate the effect of compliance and its predictors on ou tcome. Method: 62 patients with DSM-III-R bulimia nervosa (BN) were randoml y assigned to a self-cave manual plus eight fortnightly sessions of guided self-change or 16 sessions of weekly cognitive behavioural therapy. Results: At the end of treatment, the group of high compliers had nor achie ved higher abstinence! rates than low compliers regarding BNsymptoms. At fo llow-up on average 43 weeks (SD 26) after the end of therapy, those who had completed move exercises were more likely than low compliers to be abstine nt from bingeing and vomiting. Those with a high frequency of vomiting at t he beginning of therapy were less likely to use the Manual while those with a longer duration of illness and higher levels of restraint were move like ly to use the manual. Discussion: Exercises seem to be particularly important. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.