CBT4BN: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Online Chat and Face-to-Face Group Therapy for Bulimia Nervosa.

Objective: Although cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) represents the first-line evidence-based psychotherapy for bulimia nervosa (BN), most individuals seeking treatment do not have access to this specialized intervention. We compared an Internet-based manualized version of CBT group therapy for BN conducted via a therapeutic chat group (CBT4BN) to the same treatment conducted via a traditional face-to-face group therapy (CBTF2F).

Method: In a two-site, randomized, controlled noninferiority trial, we tested the hypothesis that CBT4BN would not be inferior to CBTF2F.

Text4Diet: a randomized controlled study using text messaging for weight loss behaviors.

Objective: Text-messaging shows promise as a health intervention. This randomized controlled trial evaluated a daily text-messaging weight loss intervention.

Methods: Overweight and obese adults (n=170) in California were randomized to receive daily interactive and personally weight-relevant text-messages or monthly e-newsletters.

Mobile therapy: Use of text-messaging in the treatment of bulimia nervosa.

Objective: To examine a text-messaging program for self-monitoring symptoms of bulimia nervosa (BN) within the context of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).

Method: Thirty-one women participated in 12 weekly group CBT sessions and a 12 week follow-up. Participants submitted a text message nightly indicating the number of binge eating and purging episodes and rating their urges to binge and purge.

Use of text messaging for monitoring sugar-sweetened beverages, physical activity, and screen time in children: a pilot study.

Objective: To examine acceptability, attrition, adherence, and preliminary efficacy of mobile phone short message service (SMS; text messaging) for monitoring healthful behaviors in children.

Design: All randomized children received a brief psychoeducational intervention. They then either monitored target behaviors via SMS with feedback or via paper diaries (PD) or participated in a no-monitoring control (C) for 8 weeks.

Exploratory study to decrease postprandial anxiety: Just relax!

Objective: Critical first steps in the treatment of anorexia nervosa (AN) include re-nutrition and weight restoration, both highly anxiety provoking for patients. We explored the impact of progressive muscle relaxation (PMR), guided imagery (GI), self-directed relaxation (SR), and control (C) on reducing postprandial anxiety in 64 females with AN.

Method: Participants began the study upon hospital admission.

Diagnosis and management of binge eating disorder.

This paper addresses current issues regarding the diagnosis and management of binge eating disorder (BED). Controversies in diagnosis include the lack of empirically validated criteria, the lack of a universally recognized operational definition of a "binge episode", and the lack of age-appropriate assessment instruments in light of growing reports of BED among children and adolescents. For adults with BED, several pharmacological and behavioral treatments have shown promise in reducing binge frequency and related psychological symptoms of disordered eating (i.

Feasibility and acceptability of CD-ROM-based cognitive-behavioural treatment for binge-eating disorder.

We compared preliminary feasibility and acceptability of CD-ROM-delivered CBT for overweight individuals with binge-eating disorder (BED) to 10 weekly group CBT sessions (Group) and to a waiting list control (WL). Attrition was numerically greater in the Group than the CD-ROM condition; although only Group differed significantly from WL in dropout rates. Those in the CD-ROM condition reported continued use of their CD-ROM after treatment.

Bulimia nervosa treatment: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

Objective: The RTI International-University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Evidence-based Practice Center systematically reviewed evidence on efficacy of treatment for bulimia nervosa (BN), harms associated with treatments, factors associated with treatment efficacy, and differential outcome by sociodemographic characteristics.

Method: We searched six major databases published from 1980 to September 2005 in all languages against a priori inclusion/exclusion criteria; we focused on eating, psychiatric or psychological, and biomarker outcomes.

Results: Forty-seven studies of medication only, behavioral interventions only, and medication plus behavioral interventions for adults or adolescents met our inclusion criteria.

Evaluating binge eating disorder in children: development of the children's binge eating disorder scale (C-BEDS).

Objective: Binge eating disorder (BED) may manifest itself differently in children than adults. Recently researchers have proposed provisional criteria for measuring BED in children. The purpose of this study was to develop a brief, simple, structured, interviewer-administered scale (C-BEDS) to measure BED in children according to the provisional criteria and to compare diagnostic results with SCID diagnoses.

"Structure-size me:" weight and health changes in a four week residential program.

The prevalence of obesity has been drastically increasing over the past 20 years. Other obesity related conditions, including type 2 diabetes mellitus, have also increased in a corresponding manner and, in 2005, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) reduced the cut-off for defining impaired blood glucose. Evidence suggests that just a modest amount of weight loss can improve obesity related co-morbidities.

A pilot study of the effects of behavioral weight loss treatment on fibromyalgia symptoms.

Objective: Previous studies have found a relation between weight loss and pain severity in various chronic pain populations. However, there has been little research examining the relation between body mass index (BMI) and fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate the relationship between BMI and FMS symptoms and to determine if FMS symptoms would decrease following weight loss.

Counterregulatory eating behavior in multiple item test meals.

Restrained eaters have been shown to disinhibit their eating when under stressful situations. However, the majority of laboratory studies that have demonstrated this effect utilized a single test food, typically ice cream. There is a lack of research investigating if this interaction is still evident when multiple foods are offered, and if so, the food choices that restrained and non-restrained eaters make when under stressful situations.

Assessment of eating disorders: review and recommendations for clinical use.

Practitioners have come under increasing pressure to provide objective data on assessment and treatment outcome of clients. This article provides a brief summary of assessment of eating disorders for the practicing clinician, with an emphasis on well-validated assessment instruments. The critical domains that should be covered in a thorough assessment of eating disorders are reviewed, as are some shortcomings in the current assessment literature, and also discussed is which assessment instruments for the eating disorders are most useful in a clinical context.

The freshman year of college as a critical period for weight gain: an initial evaluation.

Prevention of obesity and weight maintenance have become important public health issues. One strategy for prevention of obesity is to identify critical periods of weight gain across the life span. The purpose of this initial evaluation was to determine whether the transition from high school to college is such a critical period.

ESRD managed care demonstration: financial implications.

In 1996, CMS launched the end stage renal disease (ESRD) managed care demonstration to study the experience of offering managed care to ESRD patients. This article analyzes the financial impact of the demonstration, which sought to assess its economic impact on the Federal Government, the sites, and the ESRD Medicare beneficiaries. Medicare's costs for demonstration enrollees were greater than they would have been if these enrollees had remained in the fee-for-service (FFS) system.

Quality of life and patient satisfaction: ESRD managed care demonstration.

To study the effects of managed care on dialysis patients, we compared the quality of life and patient satisfaction of patients in a managed care demonstration with three comparison samples: fee-for-service (FFS) patients, managed care patients outside the demonstration, and patients in a separate national study. Managed care patients were less satisfied than FFS patients about access to health care providers, but more satisfied with the financial benefits (copayment coverage, prescription drugs, and nutritional supplements) provided under the demonstration managed care plan (MCP). After 1 year in the demonstration, patients exhibited statistically and clinically significant increases in quality of life scores.

Patient selection in the ESRD managed care demonstration.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service's (CMS') end stage renal disease (ESRD) managed care demonstration offered an opportunity to assess patient selection among a chronically ill and inherently costly population. Patient selection refers to the phenomenon whereby those Medicare beneficiaries who choose to enroll or stay in health maintenance organizations (HMOs) are, on average, younger, healthier, and less costly to treat than beneficiaries who remain in the traditional Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) sector. The results presented in this article show that enrollees into the demonstration were generally younger and healthier than a representative group of comparison patients from the same geographic areas.

Evaluation of the ESRD managed care demonstration operations.

Individuals with end stage renal disease (ESRD), most of whom are insured by Medicare, are generally prohibited from enrolling in Medicare managed care plans (MCPs). CMS offered ESRD patients the opportunity to participate in an ESRD managed care demonstration mandated by Congress. The demonstration tested whether managed care systems would be of interest to ESRD patients and whether these approaches would be operationally feasible and efficient for treating ESRD patients.

The effects of restraint, gender, and body mass index on the accuracy of self-reported weight.

Objective: Previous research has shown that women, restrained eaters, and overweight/obese individuals have a tendency to underreport their weight. This study investigated gender, dietary restraint, and BMI to determine which is the best predictor of errors in self-reported weight.

Method: A total of 241 college students completed questionnaires pertaining to height and weight and then were weighed in the laboratory.

Weight goals in a college-age population.

Objective: Although a growing body of literature has found unrealistic weight loss goals to be common among older, primarily female, subjects, little is known about weight loss goals of younger adults.

Research Methods And Procedures: Three hundred seventy-nine college students had their height and weight taken and reported their "goal," "dream," "happy," "acceptable," and "disappointed" weights. A series of 2 (gender) x 2 (nonoverweight vs.

Self-reported dietary restraint is associated with elevated levels of salivary cortisol.

Previous studies have found inconsistent relationships between restrained eating, dieting, and cortisol. The present study was designed to clarify the relationship between self-reported restrained eating and cortisol using multiple measures of dietary restraint. Eighty-five college-age women completed the Restraint Scale (RS) and the Cognitive Restraint Scale of the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ-R) and provided a saliva sample for analysis of cortisol.