Getting better byte by byte: a pilot randomised controlled trial of email therapy for bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder.

Full Abstract

One hundred and ten people in an university population responded to emailed eating disorder questionnaires. Ninty-seven fulfilling criteria for eating disorders (bulimia nervosa (BN), binge eating disorder (BED), EDNOS) were randomised to therapist administered email bulimia therapy (eBT), unsupported Self directed writing (SDW) or Waiting list control (WLC). Measures were repeated at 3 months. Diagnosis, Beck depression inventory (BDI) and Bulimia investigatory test (BITE) scores were recorded. Follow-up rate was 63% and results must be interpreted cautiously. However significantly fewer participants who had received eBT or SDW fulfilled criteria for eating disorders at follow up compared to WLC. There was no significant difference between eBT and SDW in the analysis of variance (ANOVA), although in separate analyses, eBT was significantly superior to WLC (p < 0.02) and the difference for SDW approached significance (p = 0.06). BDI and BITE scores showed no significant change. For eBT participants there was a significant positive correlation between words written and improvement in BITE severity score. BN, BED and EDNOS can be treated via email.(c) 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association

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Author information

Author/s: Robinson, Paul (P); Serfaty, Marc (M);

Affiliation: Russell Unit, Barnet Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust, UK. paulrobinson2(-atsign-)nhs.net

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial

Journal: European eating disorders review : the journal of the Eating Disorders Association (Eur Eat Disord Rev), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Mar; vol 16 (issue 2) : pp 84-93

Dates: Created 2008/02/25; Completed 2008/03/13;

PMID: 17879223, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult
Analysis of Variance
Bulimia - diagnosis; psychology; therapy
Bulimia Nervosa - diagnosis; psychology; therapy
Depression - diagnosis
Electronic Mail
Humans

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