A randomized controlled comparison of integrative cognitive-affective therapy (ICAT) and enhanced cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT-E) for bulimia nervosa

Psychol Med. 2014 Feb;44(3):543-53. doi: 10.1017/S0033291713001098. Epub 2013 May 23.

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this investigation was to compare a new psychotherapy for bulimia nervosa (BN), integrative cognitive-affective therapy (ICAT), with an established treatment, 'enhanced' cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT-E).

Method: Eighty adults with symptoms of BN were randomized to ICAT or CBT-E for 21 sessions over 19 weeks. Bulimic symptoms, measured by the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE), were assessed at baseline, at the end of treatment (EOT) and at the 4-month follow-up. Treatment outcome, measured by binge eating frequency, purging frequency, global eating disorder severity, emotion regulation, self-oriented cognition, depression, anxiety and self-esteem, was determined using generalized estimating equations (GEEs), logistic regression and a general linear model (intent-to-treat).

Results: Both treatments were associated with significant improvement in bulimic symptoms and in all measures of outcome, and no statistically significant differences were observed between the two conditions at EOT or follow-up. Intent-to-treat abstinence rates for ICAT (37.5% at EOT, 32.5% at follow-up) and CBT-E (22.5% at both EOT and follow-up) were not significantly different.

Conclusions: ICAT was associated with significant improvements in bulimic and associated symptoms that did not differ from those obtained with CBT-E. This initial randomized controlled trial of a new individual psychotherapy for BN suggests that targeting emotion and self-oriented cognition in the context of nutritional rehabilitation may be efficacious and worthy of further study.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00773617.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological*
  • Adult
  • Anxiety / complications
  • Anxiety / psychology
  • Bulimia / psychology
  • Bulimia / therapy
  • Bulimia Nervosa / complications
  • Bulimia Nervosa / psychology
  • Bulimia Nervosa / therapy*
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / methods*
  • Depression / complications
  • Depression / psychology
  • Emotions*
  • Evidence-Based Practice
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intention to Treat Analysis / statistics & numerical data
  • Interpersonal Relations
  • Interview, Psychological
  • Male
  • Models, Psychological
  • Models, Statistical*
  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care / statistics & numerical data
  • Patient Education as Topic / methods
  • Self Concept*
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Surveys and Questionnaires

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT00773617