Empty wrappers and food packages. Hidden stashes of junk food and breath mints or gum. A consistent pattern of vomiting after eating, or exercising excessively. In some cases, the use of laxatives. All are signs of bulimia, a potentially life-threatening disorder. To break this cycle of binge eating and purging the calories away, a combination of treatment methods may be necessary.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is known also as talk therapy or counseling. The Bulimia Nervosa Resource Guide explains the most common types of psychotherapy used are cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and behaviroal therapy (BT).
During individual CBT sessions, which typically last for four to five months, the patient is taught that the cycle of binge eating and purging is dangerous and why. They are also taught how to use restraint when eating as well as the importance of eating regularly. During the last phase, they are given techniques to use in case a setback occurs.
When undergoing BT, the patients incorporate the use of the techniques learned during CBT to increase the positive behavior, such as eating on a regular basis, while decreasing the negative, such as forcing themselves to fast. During this time, additional time and emphasis is placed on relaxation they can use when they feel the urge to binge, fast or purge.
Medications
In many cases, conditions such as depression, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder accompany bulimia, according to the Bulimia Nervosa Resource Guide. For this reason, antidepressants are prescribed to treat these underlying conditions in an effort to relieve the symptoms of these disorders, thus relieving the symptoms of bulimia.
Currently, only one medication is approved for the treatment of bulimia, and that is fluoxetine (Prozac). This is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and it affects the levels of serotonin in the brain, ultimately restoring balance to this mood regulating brain chemical.
Nutritional Counseling
While psychotherapy and medication are both pivotal aspects of bulimia treatment, helping a patient devise healthy meal plans, educate them about what a healthy diet consists of and help them regain any lost weight is equally important. This is the job of a dietitian and nutritionist, both of whom involve themselves in the treatment process.
Hospitalization
As the Mayo Clinic points out, although bulimia can be treated on an outpatient basis, in severe cases where serious health complications have resulted, treatment may need to take place in a hospital on either a medical or psychiatric ward. Alternatives may be available depending on the area, and these come in the form of clinics specializing in eating disorders offering intensive inpatient treatment, or eating disorder programs offering day treatment.
