mental health disorders
Bulimia Nervosa
Treatment of Bulimia Nervosa
Psychotherapy Certain antidepressants Treatment of bulimia nervosa may include cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, and drug therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapyis usually used. Goals are To motivate people to change To establish and maintain a regular and flexible pattern of eating To reduce their preoccupation with body weight and shape People meet with a therapist—individually or in a group—once or twice a week over a period of 4 to 5 months, for a total of about 16 to 20 sessions. cognitive behavioral therapy eliminates binge eating and purging in about 30 to 50% of people with bulimia. Many others also improve, but others drop out of therapy or do not respond. Those who improve usually continue to do well. Interpersonal psychotherapyis an alternative when cognitive behavioral therapy is unavailable. It helps people identify and change interpersonal problems that may be contributing to the eating disorder. This therapy does not involve telling people how to change, does not interpret their behavior, and does not deal directly with eating disorder. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) None 