Research Article

A case series evaluation of a modified version of interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) for the treatment of bulimic eating disorders: A pilot study

  1. Jon Arcelus1,2,*,
  2. Debbie Whight1,
  3. Christopher Langham1,
  4. Jonathan Baggott1,
  5. Lesley McGrain1,
  6. Lesley Meadows1,
  7. Caroline Meyer2

Article first published online: 18 MAY 2009

DOI: 10.1002/erv.932

Issue

European Eating Disorders Review

European Eating Disorders Review

Volume 17, Issue 4, pages 260–268, July/August 2009

Additional Information

How to Cite

Arcelus, J., Whight, D., Langham, C., Baggott, J., McGrain, L., Meadows, L. and Meyer, C. (2009), A case series evaluation of a modified version of interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) for the treatment of bulimic eating disorders: A pilot study. European Eating Disorders Review, 17: 260–268. doi: 10.1002/erv.932

Author Information

  1. 1

    Eating Disorders Service, Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, Leicester General Hospital, Leicester, UK

  2. 2

    Department of Human Sciences, Loughborough University, Leicestershire, UK

*Leicester Eating Disorders Service, Brandon Mental Health Unit, Leicester General Hospital, Gwendolen Road, Leicester LE5 4PW, UK. Tel: 0116 2256230.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 18 JUN 2009
  2. Article first published online: 18 MAY 2009

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Keywords:

  • IPT;
  • bulimia;
  • case series;
  • EDNOS

Abstract

Objective

To determine the therapeutic outcome of a modified form of (IPT-BNm) amongst patients with Bulimia Nervosa (BN) and Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS).

Method

Following initial assessment, 59 patients with diagnoses of BN or EDNOS entered treatment in the form of 16 sessions of IPT-BNm. At initial assessment, patients completed measures of general psychopathology (SCL-90), Self esteem (RSE), eating psychopathology (EDE-Q), interpersonal functioning (Inventory of Interpersonal Functioning; IIP-32) and depression (BDI). At the middle and end of treatment, EDE-Q, IIP-32 and BDI measures were repeated.

Results

By the middle of therapy, patients had made significant improvements in terms of their eating disordered cognitions and behaviours (including reductions in EDE-Q scores, bingeing and self-induced vomiting), interpersonal functioning and levels of depression.

Conclusions

IPT-BNm is an effective treatment for patients with Bulimic Eating Disorders and appears to work quickly, as there were significant reductions in eating disorders symptoms within the first eight sessions of treatment. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.

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