Cited by 99Eating Disorders and BehaviorsDigital Mental Health InterventionsNutrition, Health and Food Behavior

Internet-based interventions for eating disorders in adults: a systematic review

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Dölemeyer, Ruth, Tietjen, Annemarie, Kersting, Anette, Wagner, Birgit·2013·BMC Psychiatry

Abstract

BACKGROUND: This systematic review evaluates the efficacy of internet-based interventions for the treatment of different eating disorders in adults. METHOD: A search for peer reviewed journal articles detailing Randomised Control Trials (RCT) and Controlled Trials (CT) addressing participants with eating disorders aged at least 16 was completed in the electronic databases Web of Science, PsycInfo and PubMed. The quality of the included articles was assessed, results were reviewed and effect sizes and corresponding confidence intervals were calculated. RESULTS: Eight studies, including a total of N = 609 participants, fulfilled the selection criteria and were included. The majority of treatments applied in these studies were based on CBT principles. Six studies described guided self-help interventions that showed significant symptom reduction in terms of primary and secondary outcomes regarding eating behaviour and abstinence rates. These studies produced significant medium to high effect sizes both within and between the groups after utilisation of guided self-help programs or a self-help book backed up with supportive e-mails. The two remaining studies utilised a specific writing task or e-mail therapy that did not follow a structured treatment program. Here, no significant effects could be found. Treatment dropout rates ranged from 9% to 47.2%. Furthermore, reductions in other symptoms, for example depression and anxiety, and an increase in quality of life were found by four studies. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the results support the value of internet-based interventions that use guided self-help to tackle eating disorders, but further research is needed due to the heterogeneity of the studies.

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Authors
Dölemeyer, R., Tietjen, A., Kersting, A., & Wagner, B.
Affiliations
  • Leipzig University (DE)
  • IFB Adiposity Diseases (DE)
Corresponding author
Dölemeyer, Ruth
Venue
BMC Psychiatry
Published
2013-08-06
Volume
13
Issue
1
Pages
207-207
ISSN
1471-244X (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W1974836041
Cited by
99
References
71
Citations by year
2025: 8 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 1
FWCI
1.46
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • BMC Psychiatry (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (FKZ:01EO1001, 01EO1001)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Digital Mental Health Interventions
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior
Keywords
online intervention, eating disorders, adults, guided self-help, cognitive behavioral therapy, treatment discontinuation, depression, anxiety, quality of life, eating behaviour, abstinence
MeSH terms
Adult, Feeding and Eating Disorders, Humans, Therapy, Computer-Assisted, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Treatment Outcome, Internet

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