Bulimia nervosa : a review of therapy research

Abstract

Since the delineation of bulimia nervosa as a distinct syndrome in 1979, a variety of etiological models and related treatments have evolved. Methodological advances in evaluation have been reflected in recent outcome studies. There is now extensive evidence for the effectiveness of various short-term psychotherapies for bulimia nervosa. However, there is no convincing support for the specificity of any one form; all have a salubrious effect. Cognitive-behavioral therapy has been the most extensively researched. A parallel literature examines antidepressant pharmacotherapy for this disorder, and there are recent studies of comparative and integrative aspects of drug therapy and psychotherapy. Issues related to the long-term outcome of short-term interventions, predictors of response, and mechanisms of change await elucidation.