VR-based cue-exposure therapy (VR-CET) versus VR-CET plus pharmacotherapy in the treatment of bulimic-type eating disorders

Abstract

Abstract. Treatment guidelines recommend antidepressant medication for bulimictype eating disorders either as an alternative to or in combination with cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). This study compared the efficacy of two second-line treatments of patients with bulimic-type eating disorders resistant to CBT: virtual realitybased cue-exposure therapy (VR-CET) alone or VR-CET in combination with pharmacotherapy. Results showed that bingeing episodes, bulimic symptomatology (the bulimia EDI-3 score) and food cravings (FCQ-T/S) were significantly reduced after both interventions. However, no significant differences were found between the combined intervention and VR-CET alone. Improvements from the treatments continued at the 6month follow-up. Our results support the use of VR-CET as an effective treatment of bulimic-type eating disorders, reducing bulimic symptoms and food cravings. The addition of antidepressants to VR-CET does not provide any additional benefit.