Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by binge eating and purging or consuming a large amount of food in a short amount of time, followed by an attempt to rid oneself of the food consumed, usually by purging (vomiting) and/or by laxative, diuretics or excessive exercise. When someone has bulimia, he may need several types of treatment, psychotherapy with antidepressants may be the most effective for overcoming the disorder. Treatment is generally done using a team approach that includes us, our family, our primary care doctor or other medical provider, as well as mental health providers and dietitians experienced in treating eating disorders.
Psychotherapy is a general term for a way of treating bulimia by talking about your condition and related issues with a mental health provider. A type of talk therapy called cognitive behavioral therapy may help people with bulimia. This type of therapy is based on the idea that our own thoughts — not other people or situations — determine how we behave. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps us identify unhealthy, negative beliefs and behaviors and replace them with healthy, positive ones. Family-based therapy can also be an effective treatment for children and adolescents with eating disorders. An important part of family-based therapy is that the family is involved in making sure that healthy-eating patterns are followed and helping the person restore weight.
Antidepressant medications may help reduce the symptoms of bulimia. Fluoxetine (Prozac), a type of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). However, doctors can also prescribe other antidepressants or medications to treat your bulimia; dietitians can give us information about a healthy diet and help design, an eating plan that can help us achieve a healthy weight. Specialized eating disorder clinics may offer intensive inpatient treatment, or eating disorder programs may offer day treatment, rather than full inpatient hospitalization. Like other eating disorders, bulimia can be difficult to overcome or manage. Although the majority of people with bulimia do recover, some find that bulimia symptoms don't go away entirely but by accessing these medical facilities we can manage it.
