The Efficacy of Outpatient Client-Centered Psychotherapy for Bulimia Nervosa: Results of a Randomised Controlled Trial

The efficacy of outpatient client-centered psychotherapy (CCP) for bulimia nervosa was investigated using guided self help (GSH) as comparison group. In the initial CCP-group (n = 29), 27,6% still met the diagnostic criteria at end of treatment and 34,5% at follow-up. In the completer sample (n = 25), 16% met the diagnostic criteria at end of treatment and 0% at follow-up; significant improvements in eating behaviour, comorbid and general psychopathology could be demonstrated which persisted over the follow-up period and which, in part, were significantly superior to the improvements in the GSH-group. As regards the diagnostic criteria, the CCP proved to be significantly more effective than the GSH for both the ITT and the completer samples. At follow-up, this group difference was present in the completer samples only. The results provide initial evidence for the efficacy of CCP in the outpatient treatment of women with bulimia nervosa.