Self‐help treatments for disorders of recurrent binge eating: a systematic review

Abstract

The results support self-help interventions but shall be interpreted with caution. Because of the small number of studies using self-help techniques for BED and BN, further larger randomized, multi-center controlled studies that apply standardized inclusion criteria, evaluation instruments and self-help materials, are needed.

Integrative Response Therapy for Binge Eating Disorder

“…In addition, while GSH and PSH were not significantly different than a wait-list condition at post-treatment on binging and purging, they yielded significantly greater improvements at post-treatment on other eating disorder symptoms, psychiatric symptomotology, and interpersonal functioning. Moreover, no significant differences were found in dropout rates between GSH and formal therapist-delivered psychological therapies, or between GSH and PSH (Perkins 2008; Stefano et al, 2006; Vocks et al, 2010). A recent trial compared CBT-gsh, IPT, and BWL and found no significant differences among the three treatments in remission from binge eating, reduction in number of days of binge eating, or no longer meeting DSM-IV criteria for BED at post-treatment and 1-year follow-up (Wilson et al, 2010).…”

“…Research indicates that GSH programs, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Guided Self-Help (CBT-gsh), are superior to wait-list conditions and may be equivalent to specialty treatments in reducing binge eating and related eating disorder symptoms. Reviews investigating GSH and Pure Self-Help (PSH) for BED and BN agree on the utility of GSH and PSH, and recommend further investigation of self-help approaches (Perkins, Murphy, Schmidt, & Williams, 2006; Stefano, Bacaltchuk, Blay, & Hay, 2006; Vocks et al, 2010). Perkins et al (2006) found no significant differences between GSH or PSH and other formal, specialty psychological treatment approaches at post-treatment or follow-up on binging or purging, other eating disorder symptoms, level of interpersonal functioning, or depression.…”

“…Many recent reviews indicate that GSH is a promising treatment option for BED (Perkins & Schmidt, 2006; Perkins et al, 2006; Stefano et al, 2006; Sysko & Walsh, 2008; Vocks et al, 2010) however, all call for further GSH research, including studies comparing GSH to established interventions or credible comparison treatments, before more steadfast conclusions are drawn. While GSH is typically administered on an individual basis, group-based GSH offers a novel, viable, and even more cost-effective alternative although few studies in the literature were found that administered CBT-gsh in group format (Peterson et al, 1998; Peterson et al, 2001; Peterson et al, 2009).…”

Targeted Prevention in Bulimic Eating Disorders: Randomized Controlled Trials of a Mental Health Literacy and Self-Help Intervention

“…Hay et al (2004) and Stefano et al (2006) examined abstinence rates from ED behaviours such as binge eating in meta-analyses of trials pure self-help (PSH) vs waitlist in bulimic disorders such as BN or binge eating disorder. Rates ranged from 30% to 36% for PSH -and were better for GSH which ranged from 33% to 43%, the latter of which can be comparable to full CBT in its outcomes.…”

Comparison of face-to-face versus email guided self-help for binge eating: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

“…However, few studies have looked at how best to deliver this form of treatment, although outcomes and treatment adherence appear better when guidance is available from a healthcare professional (for example, [2-4]), known as guided self-help or GSH. Furthermore, GSH has demonstrated particular cost-effectiveness, even when highly trained clinicians are used to administer the treatment [5], and a number of other RCTs have supported the utility of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT)-based self-help in the treatment of recurrent binge eating (see [6] for a review). Typically this has been delivered face-to-face, but email-assisted therapy has been suggested as a helpful way of obtaining professional treatment without the need for face-to-face contact that is popular with patients and therapists [7].…”