Cue reactivity in bulimia nervosa: A useful self-report approach.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the usefulness of a self-report questionnaire in the assessment of cue reactivity among women treated for bulimia nervosa.

METHOD: Subjects were women participating in a randomized clinical trial evaluating the additive efficacy of exposure- and non-exposure-based behavioral treatment to a core of cognitive behavior therapy, with follow-up at 6 months post treatment. Complete data were available for 82 women. Cue reactivity was assessed using an adaptation of the Situational Appetite Measure (SAM).

RESULTS

Improvements in cue reactivity occurred over time for the sample as a whole, with greater improvements being associated with favorable treatment outcome and treatment modality (exposure based treatments associated with greater improvements). The best single predictor of abstinence at 6 months was abstinence at posttreatment.

CONCLUSION

A self-report questionnaire (adapted SAM) provided useful information regarding cue reactivity among women treated for bulimia nervosa, without the difficulties associated with in vivo assessment.