BulimiaNCT00879151
Study of Treatment for Adolescents With Bulimia Nervosa
A study testing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Adolescents, Supportive Psychotherapy and Family Based Therapy for Bulimia Nervosa in people with Bulimia, run by Stanford University at 2 sites in United States.
Trial summary
In the face of scant literature on the subject, the investigators aim to more clearly identify effective treatments for adolescent bulimia nervosa (BN) through a treatment study comparing two current treatments (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Adolescents, CBT-A and Family Based Therapy for Bulimia Nervosa, FBT-BN)… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 12 to 18 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Bulimia
- What is being tested?
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Adolescents, Supportive Psychotherapy and Family Based Therapy for Bulimia Nervosa
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 130 participants
- Where
- 2 sitesUnited States
- Study dates
- Jan 2009to Sep 2014
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 12 to 18 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child, Adult
Who may be able to join
- Participants will be adolescents living with at least one of their parents and between the ages of 12 and 18 years of age with a DSM IV diagnosis of BN or partial BN (binge eating and purging at least one time per week over a six month period).
- Males meeting inclusion criteria will also be entered into the study. They must have age-adjusted BMI greater than 17.5, or ideal body weight (IBW) > 85%.
- Family, for the purposes of this study, includes members of the subject's household, including at least one parent or adult guardian. Single parent families, divorced families, step-parents, and other types of families will be allowed to enter the study.
Who cannot join
- psychotic illness or other mental illness requiring hospitalization; bipolar I disorder, depression with active suicidal thoughts and behavior;
- associated physical illness that necessitates hospitalization;
- current dependence on drugs or alcohol;
- current diagnosis of anorexia nervosa or weight less that 85% IBW;
- physical conditions (e.g. diabetes mellitus, pregnancy) known to influence eating or weight;
- currently taking medication for co-morbid conditions for less than 2-months;
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- currently taking medications that may induce weight loss, e.g., appetite suppressants such as sibutramine, phentermine, and xenical, unless the participant is willing to withdraw from such medications;
- currently taking medications for symptoms of BN and unwilling to discontinue these prior to initiating treatment in the study
- previous CBT or FBT treatment for BN
- married subjects
- emancipated minors
- family members will be excluded from engaging in treatment for the following reasons:
- Current or history of sexual or physical abuse of the patient by family members. Perpetrators of the abuse will be excluded from treatment. Should sexual or physical abuse by a family member occur during the course of treatment, perpetrators will be excluded from ongoing treatment.
- Substance dependence, psychosis, or severe medical illness that would limit full participation in therapy, or that might put the family member at risk for worsening of their condition during treatment. The decision whether or not to allow these individuals to continue to participate in treatment will be made by the therapist in consultation with the treatment supervisor.
Trial locations and contacts
2 sites in 1 country.
United States2 sites
University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois, 60637
Stanford University School of Medicine
Stanford, California, 94305
About this study
Official title: Treatment of Bulimic Adolescents
In the face of scant literature on the subject, the investigators aim to more clearly identify effective treatments for adolescent bulimia nervosa (BN) through a treatment study comparing two current treatments (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Adolescents, CBT-A and Family Based Therapy for Bulimia Nervosa, FBT-BN) for the disorder in comparison with a non-specific therapy, Supportive Psychotherapy for Adolescent Bulimia (SPT). Additionally, the investigators hope to provide clinicians with information on treatment efficacy, variables that might influence outcome, and processes that may affect treatment efficacy that will guide them in their efforts to treat adolescent BN.
Read the detailed description
BN is a serious disorder that is characterized by extreme concerns about body weight and shape, dieting, and the disinhibited eating behaviors of binging and purging. There are no published randomized clinical trials of psychotherapy treatment for Bulimia Nervosa in adolescents although it often onsets in this age group. There is evidence that some treatments are effective, but none has been empirically tested. Because Bulimia Nervosa is a serious medical and psychiatric illness it is important to learn efficacious ways to treat this disorder, especially in its early stages. Treatments used in this study are the best known treatments for adults with Bulimia Nervosa. The investigators hope to learn which of two previously studied treatments might be superior to the other, in an effort to guide clinicians in treatment choices. Successfully treating the disorder early on (even in those adolescents with partial BN, characterized by binge eating and purging at least one time per week over a 6 month period) may reduce the number of cases requiring treatment during adulthood, leading to possible reduction in severity of associated psychopathology and lower costs, as well as enable individuals to lead more productive lives.
Given the neglect of adolescent BN in the research literature and the need for information to guide the clinical treatment of this disorder, this study's primary aim is to compare the efficacy of CBT-A to FBT-BN in decreasing binge eating and purging episodes in adolescents with BN and partial BN (defined as binge eating and purging at least one time per week for the past six months).
Participation in this study will last 1 and a half years and will consist of 6 months of treatment and a follow-up session at 6 and 12 months post-treatment. All participants will first undergo baseline assessments, which include interviews and questionnaires about psychological history and BN symptoms, and an Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) interview. All treatment assignments consist of 18 sessions of therapy over the course of 6 months.
- Conditions
- Bulimia
- Being tested
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Adolescents, Supportive Psychotherapy, Family Based Therapy for Bulimia Nervosa
- Medical subject headings
- Bulimia
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for AdolescentsBehavioural
The therapist will work with the adolescent to understand triggers to binge eating and purging, such as thoughts, feelings, and interpersonal difficulties. Also, establishing regular eating patterns and eliminating medically harmful behaviors associated with the eating disorder is a primary goal.
Supportive PsychotherapyBehavioural
SPT focuses on having the patient build a relationship with the therapist and explore their unique individual needs within the context of their life and the experience of having an eating disorder.
Family Based Therapy for Bulimia NervosaBehavioural
FBT helps parents to take an active role in guiding their child through eating disorder treatment. In this therapy, the parents are supported in helping their child stop bingeing, purging and engaging in other harmful weight-control behaviors. The way in which the eating disorder has impacted the family and the adolescent's development is also explored.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Psychotherapy | Experimental | Patients are randomized to one of three different types of psychotherapy: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for adolescents, Family-Based Therapy for Bulimia Nervosa, and Supportive Psychotherapy. All treatments consist of 18 sessions over a period of approximately 6 months. Receives: Behavioral: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Adolescents; Behavioral: Supportive Psychotherapy; Behavioral: Family Based Therapy for Bulimia Nervosa |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Binge and purge frequency as assessed by the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE)
Measured: End of Treatment
Secondary outcomes (1)
Changes in the subscale scores of the EDE
Measured: End of Treatment
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted9 Apr 2009 (estimated)
- Study startJan 2009
- Primary completionSep 2014
- Study completionSep 2014
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (5)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for BulimiaStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Stanford UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 130 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Stanford University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- University of Chicago
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, James Dale Lock, Stanford University
- Investigators
- James D Lock, Principal investigator, Stanford University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT00879151
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- SU-02272009-1878
- Other IDs
- eProtocol Number 132056
- Status last verified
- May 2015
- First submitted
- 7 Apr 2009
- Last updated
- 25 May 2015
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
Publications
Gorrell S, Kinasz K, Hail L, Bruett L, Forsberg S, Lock J, Le Grange D. Rituals and preoccupations associated with bulimia nervosa in adolescents: Does motivation to change matter? Eur Eat Disord Rev. 2019 May;27(3):323-328. doi: 10.1002/erv.2664. Epub 2019 Feb 7.
PubMed 30734406Valenzuela F, Lock J, Le Grange D, Bohon C. Comorbid depressive symptoms and self-esteem improve after either cognitive-behavioural therapy or family-based treatment for adolescent bulimia nervosa. Eur Eat Disord Rev. 2018 May;26(3):253-258. doi: 10.1002/erv.2582. Epub 2018 Feb 15.
PubMed 29446174Le Grange D, Lock J, Agras WS, Bryson SW, Jo B. Randomized Clinical Trial of Family-Based Treatment and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Adolescent Bulimia Nervosa. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2015 Nov;54(11):886-94.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.jaac.2015.08.008. Epub 2015 Sep 2.
PubMed 26506579Darcy AM, Fitzpatrick KK, Manasse SM, Datta N, Klabunde M, Colborn D, Aspen V, Stiles-Shields C, Labuschagne Z, Le Grange D, Lock J. Central coherence in adolescents with bulimia nervosa spectrum eating disorders. Int J Eat Disord. 2015 Jul;48(5):487-93. doi: 10.1002/eat.22340. Epub 2014 Aug 22.
PubMed 25146149Darcy AM, Fitzpatrick KK, Colborn D, Manasse S, Datta N, Aspen V, Shields CS, Le Grange D, Lock J. Set-shifting among adolescents with bulimic spectrum eating disorders. Psychosom Med. 2012 Oct;74(8):869-72. doi: 10.1097/PSY.0b013e31826af636. Epub 2012 Sep 21.
PubMed 23001391
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 25 May 2015. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Treatment of Bulimic Adolescents
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT00879151
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- SU-02272009-1878
- Conditions
- Bulimia
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 130 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Stanford UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- University of Chicago
- Study start
- Jan 2009
- Primary completion
- Sep 2014 (actual)
- Study completion
- Sep 2014 (actual)
- First posted
- 9 Apr 2009 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
In the face of scant literature on the subject, the investigators aim to more clearly identify effective treatments for adolescent bulimia nervosa (BN) through a treatment study comparing two current treatments (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Adolescents, CBT-A and Family Based Therapy for Bulimia Nervosa, FBT-BN) for the disorder in comparison with a non-specific therapy, Supportive Psychotherapy for Adolescent Bulimia (SPT). Additionally, the investigators hope to provide clinicians with information on treatment efficacy, variables that might influence outcome, and processes that may affect treatment efficacy that will guide them in their efforts to treat adolescent BN.
Detailed description
BN is a serious disorder that is characterized by extreme concerns about body weight and shape, dieting, and the disinhibited eating behaviors of binging and purging. There are no published randomized clinical trials of psychotherapy treatment for Bulimia Nervosa in adolescents although it often onsets in this age group. There is evidence that some treatments are effective, but none has been empirically tested. Because Bulimia Nervosa is a serious medical and psychiatric illness it is important to learn efficacious ways to treat this disorder, especially in its early stages. Treatments used in this study are the best known treatments for adults with Bulimia Nervosa. The investigators hope to learn which of two previously studied treatments might be superior to the other, in an effort to guide clinicians in treatment choices. Successfully treating the disorder early on (even in those adolescents with partial BN, characterized by binge eating and purging at least one time per week over a 6 month period) may reduce the number of cases requiring treatment during adulthood, leading to possible reduction in severity of associated psychopathology and lower costs, as well as enable individuals to lead more productive lives.
Given the neglect of adolescent BN in the research literature and the need for information to guide the clinical treatment of this disorder, this study's primary aim is to compare the efficacy of CBT-A to FBT-BN in decreasing binge eating and purging episodes in adolescents with BN and partial BN (defined as binge eating and purging at least one time per week for the past six months).
Participation in this study will last 1 and a half years and will consist of 6 months of treatment and a follow-up session at 6 and 12 months post-treatment. All participants will first undergo baseline assessments, which include interviews and questionnaires about psychological history and BN symptoms, and an Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) interview. All treatment assignments consist of 18 sessions of therapy over the course of 6 months.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Psychotherapy | Experimental | Behavioral: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Adolescents, Behavioral: Supportive Psychotherapy, Behavioral: Family Based Therapy for Bulimia NervosaPatients are randomized to one of three different types of psychotherapy: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for adolescents, Family-Based Therapy for Bulimia Nervosa, and Supportive Psychotherapy. All treatments consist of 18 sessions over a period of approximately 6 months. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 12 to 18 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Participants will be adolescents living with at least one of their parents and between the ages of 12 and 18 years of age with a DSM IV diagnosis of BN or partial BN (binge eating and purging at least one time per week over a six month period).
- Males meeting inclusion criteria will also be entered into the study. They must have age-adjusted BMI greater than 17.5, or ideal body weight (IBW) > 85%.
- Family, for the purposes of this study, includes members of the subject's household, including at least one parent or adult guardian. Single parent families, divorced families, step-parents, and other types of families will be allowed to enter the study.
Key exclusion criteria (14 listed)
- psychotic illness or other mental illness requiring hospitalization; bipolar I disorder, depression with active suicidal thoughts and behavior;
- associated physical illness that necessitates hospitalization;
- current dependence on drugs or alcohol;
- current diagnosis of anorexia nervosa or weight less that 85% IBW;
- physical conditions (e.g. diabetes mellitus, pregnancy) known to influence eating or weight;
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for AdolescentsThe therapist will work with the adolescent to understand triggers to binge eating and purging, such as thoughts, feelings, and interpersonal difficulties. Also, establishing regular eating patterns and eliminating medically harmful behaviors associated with the eating disorder is a primary goal. | Behavioural | Psychotherapy |
| Supportive PsychotherapySPT focuses on having the patient build a relationship with the therapist and explore their unique individual needs within the context of their life and the experience of having an eating disorder. | Behavioural | Psychotherapy |
| Family Based Therapy for Bulimia NervosaFBT helps parents to take an active role in guiding their child through eating disorder treatment. In this therapy, the parents are supported in helping their child stop bingeing, purging and engaging in other harmful weight-control behaviors. The way in which the eating disorder has impacted the family and the adolescent's development is also explored. | Behavioural | Psychotherapy |
Primary outcome
Binge and purge frequency as assessed by the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE)
Time frame: End of Treatment
1 secondary outcome
Changes in the subscale scores of the EDE
Time frame: End of Treatment
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 25 May 2015.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 30734406Gorrell S, Kinasz K, Hail L, Bruett L, Forsberg S, Lock J, Le Grange D. Rituals and preoccupations associated with bulimia nervosa in adolescents: Does motivation to change matter? Eur Eat Disord Rev. 2019 May;27(3):323-328. doi: 10.1002/erv.2664. Epub 2019 Feb 7.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 29446174Valenzuela F, Lock J, Le Grange D, Bohon C. Comorbid depressive symptoms and self-esteem improve after either cognitive-behavioural therapy or family-based treatment for adolescent bulimia nervosa. Eur Eat Disord Rev. 2018 May;26(3):253-258. doi: 10.1002/erv.2582. Epub 2018 Feb 15.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 26506579Le Grange D, Lock J, Agras WS, Bryson SW, Jo B. Randomized Clinical Trial of Family-Based Treatment and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Adolescent Bulimia Nervosa. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2015 Nov;54(11):886-94.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.jaac.2015.08.008. Epub 2015 Sep 2.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 25146149Darcy AM, Fitzpatrick KK, Manasse SM, Datta N, Klabunde M, Colborn D, Aspen V, Stiles-Shields C, Labuschagne Z, Le Grange D, Lock J. Central coherence in adolescents with bulimia nervosa spectrum eating disorders. Int J Eat Disord. 2015 Jul;48(5):487-93. doi: 10.1002/eat.22340. Epub 2014 Aug 22.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 23001391Darcy AM, Fitzpatrick KK, Colborn D, Manasse S, Datta N, Aspen V, Shields CS, Le Grange D, Lock J. Set-shifting among adolescents with bulimic spectrum eating disorders. Psychosom Med. 2012 Oct;74(8):869-72. doi: 10.1097/PSY.0b013e31826af636. Epub 2012 Sep 21.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
James D Lock principal investigator
Stanford University
2 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Adolescents, Supportive Psychotherapy and Family Based Therapy for Bulimia Nervosa in people with Bulimia, run by Stanford University at 2 sites in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 14 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 25 May 2015. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 2 sites in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Binge and purge frequency as assessed by the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) (time frame: End of Treatment). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT00879151, which also lists 5 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 25 May 2015.