Treatment of Bulimia Nervosa in a Primary Care Setting
Information source: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Information obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov on March 21, 2008
Link to the current ClinicalTrials.gov record.
Condition(s) targeted: Bulimia Nervosa
Intervention: Fluoxetine (Drug); Guided Self-Help (Behavioral)
Phase: N/A
Status: Completed
Sponsored by: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) Official(s) and/or principal investigator(s):
B. T. Walsh, MD, Principal Investigator, Affiliation: Columbia University
Summary
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.
Clinical Details
Study design: Treatment, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo Control, Parallel Assignment
Eligibility
Minimum age: 18 Years.
Maximum age: 60 Years.
Gender(s): Female.
Criteria:
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
Locations and Contacts
New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York 10032, United States
Additional Information
Website for the Eating Disorders Clinic at the New York State Psychiatric Institute. Provides information about all of the programs offered by our institute for eating disorders.
Related publications: Waller D, Fairburn CG, McPherson A, Kay R, Lee A, Nowell T. Treating bulimia nervosa in primary care: a pilot study. Int J Eat Disord. 1996 Jan;19(1):99-103.
Starting date: March 1998
Ending date: December 2001
Last updated: June 23, 2005
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