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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2007 Jan;40(1):27-36.
doi: 10.1002/eat.20292.

Experimental test of the affect-regulation theory of bulimic symptoms and substance use: a randomized trial

Emily Burton  1 , Eric Stice, Sarah Kate Bearman, Paul Rohde
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Experimental test of the affect-regulation theory of bulimic symptoms and substance use: a randomized trial

Emily Burton et al. Int J Eat Disord. 2007 Jan.

Abstract

Objective: Conduct a randomized trial to test whether a cognitive behavioral intervention designed to decrease depressive symptoms produces subsequent decreases in bulimic and substance use symptoms.

Method: Female participants (N = 145) with elevated depressive symptoms were randomly assigned to a 4-session depression intervention or a measurement-only condition and assessed through 6-month follow-up.

Results: Relative to control participants, intervention participants showed decreases in depressive symptoms. Intervention participants also showed significantly greater reductions in bulimic symptoms, but not substance use, and change in depressive symptoms mediated this effect for bulimic symptoms.

Conclusion: The results provide experimental support for the theory that affect disturbances contribute to bulimic pathology, but do not support the affect regulation theory of substance use.

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