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.