dence Based Practice Center (RTI-EPC)

systematically reviewed evidence on effi-cacy of treatment for binge eating disor-der (BED), harms associated with treat-ments, factors associated with treatment efficacy, and differential outcome by sociodemographic characteristics. Method: We searched six major data-bases for studies on the treatment of BED published from 1980 to September, 2005, in all languages against a priori inclusion/exclusion criteria and focused on eating, psychiatric or psychological, or biomarker outcomes. Results: Twenty-six studies, including medication-only, medication plus behav-ioral intervention, and behavioral inter-vention only designs, met inclusion crite-ria. The strength of the evidence for med-ication and behavioral interventions was moderate, for self-help and other inter-ventions was weak, for treatment-related harms was strong, for factors associated with efficacy of treatment was weak, and for differential outcome by sociodemo-graphic factors was nonexistent. Individ-ual or group CBT reduces binge eating and improves abstinence rates for up to 4 months after treatment but does not lead to weight loss. Medications may play a role in treating BED patients. Conclusion: The literature regarding treatment efficacy for BED is variable. Future directions include the identifica-tion of optimal interventions that are associated with both sustained absti-nence from binge eating and permanent weight loss. VC 2007 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc