BRIEF STRATEGIC THERAPY-BASED INTERVENTION FOR BINGE EATING DISORDER AND OBESITY: THE STRATOB STUDY. AIP XIX, Symposium Session, 5, 2 A, Suppl. 2017

Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is a frequent and significant psychiatric comorbidity among individuals seeking treatment for obesity and overweight. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the best-established treatment for binge eating, but its long-term impact and time course on other BED-related symptoms remain uncertain. Recently, a Brief Strategic Therapy (BST) protocol for BED was developed, revealing favorable outcomes. Moreover, telemedicine presents an opportunity for the outpatient treatment of persons diagnosed with BED. The STRATOB (Systemic and STRATegic psychotherapy for OBesity) study, a two-arm randomized controlled clinical trial, aimed to assess the efficacy of CBT and BST across BED-related symptoms in both an inpatient and telephone-based outpatient settings. 80 patients referring to a single clinical center for weight loss and rehabilitation were randomly assigned to both an inpatient and telephone-based outpatient CBT or BST oriented program. Primary outcome measure was the change in the Global Index (GI) of the Outcome Questionnaire (OQ-45.2). Secondary outcome measures were BED remission (weekly binge episodes < 2) and weight loss. Data were collected at baseline, discharge from the hospital (1 month later) and after 6, 12 and 18 months through phone calls. Significant differences emerged between the two conditions, with the BST group of participants showing improved GI, weight loss and number of binge episodes at 6, 12 and 18 months follow-up points. The observed superiority of BST (vs CBT) may depend on its focus on the typical BED-related attempted solutions though the use of ad hoc communication techniques. Still, generalization of research findings are limited, and further studies should investigate the impact of alternative-integrative psychological treatment options for BED.