Cognitive Therapy Via CD-Rom for Binge-Eating Disorder

Although eating and weight-related disorders are treatable, most afflicted individuals never receive proper treatment.

CD-ROM-based CBT may be an efficacious and cost-effective intervention, a useful adjunct to traditional psychotherapy, or an introductory step to treatment which familiarizes patients with the principles and techniques of CBT and increases their comfort and motivation to seek additional help.

Potential participants undergo a brief telephone screening to ensure their understanding of the study. Individuals who meet preliminary criteria are then scheduled for an initial assessment.

Patients are randomized to 1 of 3 groups. One group is given a copy of the CD-ROM program to complete at home over 10 weeks. At the end of each week, these patients upload and transmit their encrypted tracking data to the research coordinator. At the end of the treatment, participants who have not improved are offered a course of traditional manual-based group therapy, follow-up in an ongoing maintenance group in an eating disorders program, or an alternative treatment.

A second group undergoes standard group CBT. Therapy is administered over 10 weeks in five 90-minute sessions. The key topics are similar to those covered in the CD-ROM group: psychoeducation, developing a personal profile, standardizing meal times, recognizing emotional eating, increasing daily activity, learning the language of CBT, identifying automatic thoughts, restructuring thoughts, identifying cues and consequences, chaining, "surfing the urge," and preventing relapses. Therapy sessions include a didactic section followed by group interaction and discussion. All group sessions are audiotaped and monitored.