Meta-analysis of CBT for bulimia nervosa: investigating the effects using DSM-III-R and DSM-IV criteria

CRD COMMENTARY: The authors posed a suitable review question, and the inclusion criteria and literature search were adequate. However, overall, the methodological quality of this meta-analysis was weak. The authors failed to assess study quality and the description of the included studies was minimal. Very few studies were included in the meta-analysis, and the assessment of publication bias (fail-safe N) suggested that studies might have been missed. Significant heterogeneity was found in the within-group binge eating frequency, and the authors admit that this may have led to an overestimation of the overall effect size on this measure. The authors' conclusions should be viewed with caution due to the limitations described.