The relative efficacy of fluoxetine and manual-based self-help in the treatment of outpatients with bulimia nervosa

A randomized, placebo-controlled study was conducted examining the singular and combined effects of fluoxetine and a self-help manual on suppressing b ulimic behaviors in women with bulimia nervosa. A total of 91 adult women w ith bulimia nervosa were randomly assigned to one of four conditions: place bo only, fluoxetine only, placebo and a self-help manual, or fluoxetine and a self-help manual. Subjects were treated for 16 weeks. Primary outcome me asures included self-reports of bulimic behaviors. Fluoxetine and a self-he lp manual were found to be effective in reducing the frequency of vomiting episodes and in improving the response rates for vomiting and binge-eating episodes. Furthermore, both factors were shown to be acting additively on t he primary and secondary efficacy measures in this study, Results are discu ssed in relation to previous research and the implications for treatment of bulimia nervosa.