Journal article
Binge-eating disorder treatment goes online - feasibility, usability, and treatment outcome of an Internet-based treatment for binge-eating disorder: study protocol for a three-arm randomized controlled trial including an immediate treatment, a waitlist, and a placebo control group.
- Munsch S Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Fribourg, Rue de Faucigny 2, 1700, Fribourg, Switzerland. simone.munsch@unifr.ch.
- Wyssen A Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Fribourg, Rue de Faucigny 2, 1700, Fribourg, Switzerland.
- Vanhulst P Human-IST Institute, University of Fribourg, Boulevard de Perolles 90, 1700, Fribourg, Switzerland.
- Lalanne D Human-IST Institute, University of Fribourg, Boulevard de Perolles 90, 1700, Fribourg, Switzerland.
- Steinemann ST Department of General Psychology and Methodology, University of Basel, Missionsstrasse 62a, 4055, Basel, Switzerland.
- Tuch A Department of General Psychology and Methodology, University of Basel, Missionsstrasse 62a, 4055, Basel, Switzerland.
- 2019-02-15
Published in:
- Trials. - 2019
Binge-eating disorder
Cognitive behavioral therapy
Guided self-help
Internet-based treatment
Placebo
Adult
Aged
Binge-Eating Disorder
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Control Groups
Feasibility Studies
Humans
Internet
Middle Aged
Placebos
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
Treatment Outcome
Waiting Lists
English
BACKGROUND
Binge-eating disorder (BED) is characterized by recurrent episodes of loss of control over eating and is related to a higher prevalence of other mental disorders and somatic consequences associated with overweight and obesity. In community-based samples, 2-4% of women and 1-3% men are diagnosed with BED. Psychotherapeutic interventions focusing on maintenance factors of disturbed eating behavior have proven to be effective. However, treatment access is limited for a considerable number of patients with BED. A lack of specialized institutions and treatment resources, but also long distances to treatment facilities for people living in remote or rural areas are often causes of insufficient care. Internet-based guided self-help (GSH) programs have the potential to fill this gap.
METHODS
This project aims to develop and evaluate an Internet-based treatment for BED derived from an evidence-based manualized cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). The primary goal is to test feasibility and suitability of the Internet-based program and to evaluate the treatment outcome in comparison to a pure and a placebo-inspired waitlist control group (i.e. reduction of binge-eating episodes and eating disorder pathology as primary outcome variables). In total, 60 women and men aged 18-70 years with a BED diagnosis will be recruited. The Internet-based GSH treatment comprises eight sessions followed by three booster sessions. The placebo-inspired waitlist control group receives weekly messages containing information increasing positive expectations regarding the treatment effects during the four-week waiting period. The pure waitlist control group receives weekly messages simply asking patients to fill in a short questionnaire.
DISCUSSION
The access to evidence-based treatments for BED might be made easier using an Internet-based GSH approach. The present study protocol presents a randomized controlled trial. As well as evaluating the suitability and efficacy of the Internet-based GSH treatment, there will also be a prelimarily investigation on the influence of positive expectations (placebo) for a therapeutic intervention on core symptoms.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
German Clinical Trials Register, DRKS00012355 . Registered on 14 September 2017.
Binge-eating disorder (BED) is characterized by recurrent episodes of loss of control over eating and is related to a higher prevalence of other mental disorders and somatic consequences associated with overweight and obesity. In community-based samples, 2-4% of women and 1-3% men are diagnosed with BED. Psychotherapeutic interventions focusing on maintenance factors of disturbed eating behavior have proven to be effective. However, treatment access is limited for a considerable number of patients with BED. A lack of specialized institutions and treatment resources, but also long distances to treatment facilities for people living in remote or rural areas are often causes of insufficient care. Internet-based guided self-help (GSH) programs have the potential to fill this gap.
METHODS
This project aims to develop and evaluate an Internet-based treatment for BED derived from an evidence-based manualized cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). The primary goal is to test feasibility and suitability of the Internet-based program and to evaluate the treatment outcome in comparison to a pure and a placebo-inspired waitlist control group (i.e. reduction of binge-eating episodes and eating disorder pathology as primary outcome variables). In total, 60 women and men aged 18-70 years with a BED diagnosis will be recruited. The Internet-based GSH treatment comprises eight sessions followed by three booster sessions. The placebo-inspired waitlist control group receives weekly messages containing information increasing positive expectations regarding the treatment effects during the four-week waiting period. The pure waitlist control group receives weekly messages simply asking patients to fill in a short questionnaire.
DISCUSSION
The access to evidence-based treatments for BED might be made easier using an Internet-based GSH approach. The present study protocol presents a randomized controlled trial. As well as evaluating the suitability and efficacy of the Internet-based GSH treatment, there will also be a prelimarily investigation on the influence of positive expectations (placebo) for a therapeutic intervention on core symptoms.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
German Clinical Trials Register, DRKS00012355 . Registered on 14 September 2017.
- Language
-
- English
- Open access status
- gold
- Identifiers
-
- DOI 10.1186/s13063-019-3192-z
- PMID 30760299
- Persistent URL
- https://folia.unifr.ch/global/documents/246962
Statistics
Document views: 14
File downloads: