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A Comparison of Nutritional Management with Stress Management in the Treatment of Bulimia Nervosa

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

R. G. Laessle ,
P. J. V. Beumont ,
P. Butow ,
W. Lennerts ,
M. O'Connor ,
K. M. Pirke ,
S. W. Touyz  and
S. Waadt
R. G. Laessle*
Affiliation:
Max Planck Institute for Psychiatry, Munich
P. J. V. Beumont
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Sydney, Australia
P. Butow
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Sydney
W. Lennerts
Affiliation:
Max Planck Institute for Psychiatry, Munich
M. O'Connor
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney
K. M. Pirke
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Chemistry and Division of Psychoneuroendocrinology, Max Planck Institute for Psychiatry, Munich
S. W. Touyz
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Psychology, Westmead Hospital, Sydney
S. Waadt
Affiliation:
Max Planck Institute for Psychiatry, Munich
*
∗Department of Clinical Chemistry, Max Planck Institute for Psychiatry, Kraepelinstr. 10, 8000 Munich 40, Germany
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Abstract

In a comparison of nutritional management (NM) and stress management (SM) for treatment of bulimia nervosa, 55 female patients were randomly assigned to either treatment. Therapy consisted of 15 sessions in a group over three months, by the end of which, patients under both treatment conditions showed a significant reduction in the frequency of binge eating and vomiting and a significant improvement in various psychopathological features such as body dissatisfaction and depression. All improvements were maintained over 12–month follow-up. NM produced a more rapid improvement in general eating behaviour, a faster reduction in binge frequency and a higher abstinence rate from binge eating. SM led to greater positive changes in certain psychopathological features such as feelings of ineffectiveness, interpersonal distrust and anxiety. NM should be regarded as a necessary first intervention in all bulimic patients. Further psychological therapy, such as SM, is indicated as well for some patients, depending on their specific psychological difficulties.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 159 , Issue 2 , August 1991 , pp. 250 - 261
Copyright
Copyright © 1991 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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