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The main characteristics of binge-eating disorder (BED) are binge-eating episodes during which affected individuals experience loss of control, accompanied by the consumption of large amounts of food in a limited period of time. Binge-eating episodes in BED are not followed by compensatory behavior. Binge-eating is associated with a high degree of distress and in many cases accompanied by overweight. Manualized cognitive-behavioral single and group therapy programs for the treatment of BED have shown high efficacy in controlled studies. Based on a manualized face to face treatment, a self-help book was published and evaluated in the present guided self-help treatment program (gsh-program) in a naturalistic clinical study setting. 22 participants (21 female, 1 male, mean age 35.82 years (SD = 10.35)) followed the 8-week gsh-program with three booster sessions (1, 3 and 6 months after the active treatment). Two participants (9.1 %) prematurely terminated the gsh-program during the treatment phase (dropout). The number of weekly binges and eating disorder pathology (restraint eating, shape- and weight concern and eating concern) significantly decreased until the end of the active treatment. The number of weekly binges and eating disorder pathology remained stable during follow-up. General psychopathology (depressive- and anxiety symptoms) significantly decreased until the end of follow-up, 6 months after the end of active treatment. Findings suggest that the present gsh-program is an efficacious option for the treatment of BES. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The effects of guided self-help interventions for parents of children with ADHD have already been proven in randomized controlled trials. The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of this novel form of intervention under routine care conditions in a nationwide trial., Method: Registered pediatricians as well as child and youth psychiatrists enrolled 274 children between 6 and 12 years old (83.6% male) diagnosed with ADHD to a self-help program for parents of children with ADHD. The program lasted for 1 year and consisted of eight booklets with advice for parenting children with ADHD as well as complementary telephone consultations (14 calls, up to 20 minutes each). The course of the ADHD symptoms and the comorbid symptoms as well as the development of the child’s individual problems were assessed in a pre-post design., Results: 63% of the enrolled parents adhered to the program until the end. The families who cancelled the program did not differ concerning the severity of ADHD symptoms, but they did more often show an impaired familial and social background, and their children received pharmacological treatment more often. Three-fourths of the children who completed the program had received pharmacological treatment at the beginning of the program. The children had more severe ADHD symptoms than a clinical control group. During the intervention, ADHD symptoms as well as psychosocial functioning improved with large effect sizes of d>0.9. Additionally, comorbid oppositional and emotional symptoms decreased., Conclusions: These results indicate that guided self-help programs for families with children with ADHD are effective, also as an addition to pharmacological treatment.