Objective: This study presents the results of a receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis to evaluate response to cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT) for patients with bulimia nervosa (BN), delivered via telemedicine (TV-CBT) or face-to-face (FTF-CBT).
Method: Data were gathered on 116 adults treated with CBT for BN. Response to treatment (i.e., percent reduction in binge eating and purging behavior) were examined at weeks two, four, six, and eight. ROC analysis was completed to predict abstinence at end of treatment (EOT) as well as 3-month and 1-year follow-up for the entire sample and by treatment group (TV-CBT versus FTF-CBT).
Results: ROC analyses revealed that abstinence at EOT and 1-year follow-up was predicted by percent reduction in binge eating behavior whereas abstinence at 3-month follow-up was predicted by percent reduction in purging behavior. Results showed differences in predictors of treatment response when ROC analyses were completed for the entire sample and by treatment group.
Discussion: Results suggest that evaluating percent reduction in binge eating and purging at weeks two, four, six, and eight of treatment is a clinically useful tool for predicting treatment response at EOT, 3-month, and 1-year follow-up.
(c) 2008 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.