Treatment of Bulimia Nervosa in a Primary Care Setting

Bulimia Nervosa is a frequent problem for young women. It is widely assumed that this disorder cannot be treated effectively in a primary care setting. This assumption has never been tested empirically, and is probably incorrect.

In the last 15 years, effective treatment interventions for Bulimia Nervosa have been developed and validated in specialized treatment centers. The broad aim of this proposal is to examine whether these treatments, suitably adapted, can be usefully transferred to general health care settings. Specifically, the proposed study will determine the relative and combined effectiveness of the two leading treatments for Bulimia Nervosa in a primary care setting. The two major interventions are treatment with an antidepressant medication, fluoxetine, and with a form of cognitive behavioral therapy, guided self-help, designed for use in primary care.

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Key information

Conditions

Bulimia Nervosa Feeding and Eating Disorders Mental Disorders

Age range

18 year–60 year

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

New York State Psychiatric Institute

New York, 10032, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

DSM-IV criteria for bulimia nervosa with a modified frequency criterion of at least once a week

Exclusion criteria

Physical disorder requiring hospitalization or ongoing treatment likely to affect eating and/or weight
Significant suicidal ideation or behavior
Subjects judged unable to tolerate four-month treatments available in the study because of comorbid psychiatric conditions
Current drug or alcohol dependence
Current anorexia nervosa
Pregnancy or any physical condition or treatments known to influence eating and weight
Current psychiatric treatment or medication known to affect eating or weight
Previous course of fluoxetine at a dose of 60 mg. per day for at least four weeks
Allergy to fluoxetine
Previous course of cognitive behavioral therapy for Bulimia Nervosa at a qualified center

Treatment and study plan

Fluoxetine

Drug

Guided Self-Help

Behavioral

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

Nih

Registry information

Important dates

Study start: 1998
Study completion: 2001
First posted: Jan 23, 2001
Registry last updated: Jan 14, 2010

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

Completed