Individual cognitive behavioral therapy for bulimia nervosa: The description of a program

✍ Scribed by Hsu, L. K. George ;Santhouse, Robin ;Chesler, Betty E.

• Publisher: Wiley (John Wiley & Sons)
• Year: 1991
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 766 KB
• Volume: 10
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0276-3478
• DOI: 10.1002/1098-108x(199105)10:3<273::aid-eat2260100304>3.0.co;2-t

✦ Synopsis

We describe a 14-week individual cognitive behavioral treatment program that incorporated various techniques such as self-monitoring, development of alternative coping skills, cognitive restructuring, and exposure and response prevention. f h e background and rationale for the program are described. A case illustration of the treatment is presented and the findings are briefly discussed.

The behavioral treatment of bulimia nervosa consists mainly of two components: cognitive therapy and nutritional counseling. Cognitive therapy is based on the concept that the disorder represents a set of dysfunctional behaviors that occurs as a result of "a difficulty in coping with disturbed feelings and thoughts" (Fairburn, 1983). In contrast, nutritional counseling is aimed at correcting the chaotic eating behavior that leads to a state of chronic starvation and overrestraint, and the bulimic behavior is conceptualized as the result of the "starved body rebelling and demanding to be fed" .