Group IPT is a viable alternative to group CBT for the treatment of overweight patients with BED. Although lacking a nonspecific control condition limits conclusions about treatment specificity, both treatments showed initial and long-term efficacy for the core and related symptoms of BED.

The finding that negative mood is actually heightened subsequent to a binge suggests the need to further investigate what is reinforcing about a binge, including possible escape from self-awareness. Strengths of EMA technology are discussed, as well as its broad utility in BED assessment and treatment.

Individuals with binge eating disorder (BED) have high rates of comorbid psychopathology, yet little is known about the relation of comorbidity to eating disorder features or response to treatment. These issues were examined among 162 BED patients participating in a psychotherapy trial. Axis I psychopathology was not significantly related to baseline eating disorder severity, as measured by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R (SCID-I and SCID-II) and the Eating Disorder Examination. However, presence of Axis II psychopathology was significantly related to more severe binge eating and eating disorder psychopathology at baseline. Although overall presence of Axis II psychopathology did not predict treatment outcome, presence of Cluster B personality disorders predicted significantly higher levels of binge eating at 1 year following treatment. Results suggest the need to consider Cluster B disorders when designing treatments for BED.

Into the 21st century, as populations throughout the world become more and more ethnically diverse, the study of ethnicity will continue to have ever-increasing importance. In addition, with the consumption of fatty, sugar-laden convenience foods and higher levels of sedentary behavior, the rates of obesity, body dissatisfaction, and eating disorder symptomatology among ethnically diverse children and adolescents will also continue to rise. This chapter reviews the ways in which obesity and body dissatisfaction are related to the development of eating disorders among ethnically diverse youth within the United States,' with a focus on treatment implications. Our goals are to (a) identify important culture-related constructs; (b) examine the prevalence of obesity by ethnicity as a context within which eating and weight-related problems arise; (c) review the literature on body image, body type preference, body dissatisfaction, and eating disorder symptomatology among ethnically diverse children and adolescents; (d) identify methodological limitations of the current literature; and (e) suggest future directions and implications for modifying treatment for these often neglected populations.'Of note, there also have been within country as well as across-country studies of ethnicity among children and adolescents conducted outside the United States which are unfortunately beyond the scope of this chapter (for a review, see e.g.,

This article reviews the most recent treatment literature for anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder and serves as a guide for recommended readings and therapist resources. The primary focus is on empirically tested treatment modalities; for each of these approaches reviewed, the theoretical background, nature of the intervention, and existing empirical support are summarized. The article also presents less researched, albeit promising, approaches to eating disorder treatment, describing the rationale and available research. A focus on multicultural issues, including the paucity of eating disorder treatment research among participants of color, and suggestions for building research and enhancing treatment effectiveness with ethnic minority clients, is incorporated throughout. Recommendations concerning pressing research needs are made, and a summary of clinical recommendations for each disorder is formulated.