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. 2020 Feb 1;8:4. doi: 10.1186/s40337-020-0277-8

Table 17.

Cognitive behavioural therapy for Bulimia Nervosa

Certainty assessment Impact Certainty Importance
№ of studies Study design Risk of bias Inconsistency Indirectness Imprecision Other considerations
CBT vs FBT - Remission (assessed with: abstinence from BP for 4 weeks)
 2 randomised trials not serious not serious not serious not serious none RCT n = 130 aged 12–18 years. 18 sessions over 6 months. 20% remitted in CBT group versus 39% remitted in FBT group (p < 0.04, NNT = 5). RCT n = 85 (guided self care CBT) remitted 6/44 in CBT group versus 4/41 in family group. no significant difference.

⨁⨁⨁⨁

HIGH

CRITICAL
CBT vs. Psychodynamic - Remission Rates (assessed with: Diagnostic Criteria)
 1 randomised trials not serious not serious not serious not serious none

one RCT 81 females mean age 18.7 years (range 14–20). 33.3% remitted in the CBT group and 31.0% in the psychodynamic group. No significant differences.

Mean of 37 sessions. Both groups improved, there were small between groups effect sizes for binge eating (d = 0.23) and purging (d = 0.26) in favour of CBT and for eating concern (d = 0.35) in favour of PDT.

⨁⨁⨁⨁

HIGH

CRITICAL
Binge Purge Behaviour (assessed with: EDE)
 2 Case Series very serious a,b not serious not serious not serious none Two large case series (n = 68 including 2 males, 66 females, and n = 34 all female). Total age range 12–19. Number of sessions 16–20. Frequency of binge and purge episodes decreased significantly pre to post treatment.

⨁◯◯◯

VERY LOW

CRITICAL
very serious a,b not serious not serious not serious none Case series of 68 adolescents - EDE significantly improved global EDE score from 3.6 to 1.8 from pre to post treatment.

⨁◯◯◯

VERY LOW

CRITICAL
Binge Purge Frequency (assessed with: Frequency), Psychological Symptoms (EDE or EAT)
 5 Case Reports very serious a,b not serious not serious not serious none Case reports involving 9 patients in total. Frequency of binge and purge behaviours described as decreased.

⨁◯◯◯

VERY LOW

CRITICAL
very serious a,b not serious not serious not serious none 7 cases -EDE or EAT significantly improved.

⨁◯◯◯

VERY LOW

CRITICAL

Explanations

ano randomization

bno control condition

Bibliography:

RCT – Le Grange 2015 [50], Schmidt 2007 [49] (CBT vs. FBT) Stefini 2017 [107] (CBT vs. psychodynamic)

Case Series - Dalle Grave 2015 [108], Lock 2005 [109]

Case Reports – Schapman-Williams 2006 [110], Cooper 2007 [111], Anbar 2005 [112], Schapman-Williams 2007 [113], Sysko 2011 [114]