Bulimia Nervosa

Treatments

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Family-Based Treatment (FBT)

Summary of Treatment: Treatment regarding Bulimia Nervosa (BN) should view multiple areas such as behavioral symptoms, neurobiological disorders, and dysregulation of mood to better help and treat each individual. A dual approach can be used for adolescents by incorporating Dialectal Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and Family-Based Treatment (DBT). DBT is included to help with emotional dysregulation. The purpose of this method is to target problem behaviors and provide individuals with ways to appropriately cope and display regulation with intense emotions. Dysregulation and intensity of emotions may derive from symptomatic behaviors in which individuals must learn to identify and manage to become emotionally stable. FBT is integrated to provide support by managing and stabilizing eating patterns. With family being largely involved in treatment, confidentiality is limited because of what is reported to parents. Being openly engaged in treatment gives parents direct information about what the individual is reporting and provides an opportunity for both the parent and child to develop appropriate intervention methods. FBT also allows the individual to receive emotional support from the family to process through different emotions when having urges to binge eat and purge. Together FBT and DBT help to create goals for the individual regarding regulation and normal eating patterns while progressing through emotions.

• Reference: Anderson, L. K., Murray, S. B., Ramirez, A. L., Rockwell, R., Le Grange, D., & Kaye, W. H. (2015). The Integration of Family-Based Treatment and Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Adolescent Bulimia Nervosa: Philosophical and Practical Considerations. Eating Disorders, 23(4), 325–335. https://doi.org/10.1080/10640266.2015.1042319 (Links to an external site.)
• Submitted by: N/A

• Reference: Rosenburg , NK,Hougarrd E. (2005) Cognitive- Behavioral group treatment of panic disorder and Agoraphobia in a psychiatric setting: a naturalistic Study of effectiveness Nord J Psychiatry 2005; 59:198-204. Oslo ISSN 083-9488.
• Submitter: N/A