Parents, Key Component in Bulimia Treatment for Teens

Bulimia nervosa affects 1-3% of all American women, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The condition typically begins in adolescence or early adulthood. Improving treatment for bulimia nervosa has been an ongoing process in the field of mental health. A recently published study indicates that family involvement in treatment may be key in helping teens overcome bulimia nervosa.

Bulimia nervosa is a mental illness in which an individual engages in binge-eating and purging or compensatory behaviors at least twice a week for the duration of three months or longer. Binge-eating is defined as eating significantly more food than most people would in similar circumstances or during the same period of time. Inappropriate compensatory or purging behaviors are constituted by unhealthy behaviors aimed at avoiding weight gain. Purging behaviors may include fasting, excessive exercise, the use of diuretics or laxatives, diet pills, enemas, and/or self-induced vomiting.

Bulimia causes medical complications such as eroding the enamel on teeth, damage to the eosophagus, gland swelling, and electrolyte imbalance.

Cognitive-behavioral and other types of psychotherapy are often used in the treatment of bulimia. A new study shows that family involvement may also be a key component to helping bulimics recover from their eating disorders.

Daniel le Grange and his colleagues conducted at study in which they followed teenage girls between the ages of 12-19 for one year. The 80 participating teens either had full or partial bulimia nervosa. The researchers randomly divided them up into two groups, one receiving six months of supportive therapy while the other receiving six months of family-based treatment.