The recommended non-medicated treatment for bulimia are psychological therapy and one on one counseling. Only in cases that are severe and with a patient’s non-response to the initial treatments is hospitalization necessary.

The most popular treatments for bulimia is cognitive behavioral therapy. Frequently, this is the most popular initial treatment since research has found it effective in over 50% of patients. Cognitive behavioral therapy includes nutritional counseling in order to prepare the patient for coping differently and prevent relapses in the future. You can also try interpersonal therapy treatment. This type of therapy deals with the emotional aspects like depression that influenced the eating disorder. Support group therapy can be helpful if the bulimia is at its early stages and the patient’s health have not been severely compromised. Another treatment that might work is family therapy. Reports have been positive on this treatment compared to interpersonal therapy since a vital support mechanism such as the family is utilized and given support to as well.

Patients who have shown signs of depression have responded well to medications to treat their bulimia. Experts however advise that drugs are to be given in combination with some form of psychological therapy such as CBT. The antidepressants prescribed are a type of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. There are different pharmaceutical substances provided to patients to help with issues like vomiting. Occasional anti-epileptic drugs are prescribed since tests have reflected that they can help with periods of binging and purging. Bulimic patients are benefited by B vitamin drugs originally prescribed for depression and bipolar disorder.

There are other treatments for bulimia as well that have been explored. But more studies must be done and it has not yet been proven that these treatments are effective in the majority of cases. Hypnosis, light therapy, guided imagery, and acupuncture are some of these new treatments.

Hypnosis has been proven to work with patients who have bulimia, however patients that have anorexia do not respond as well to this therapy. When a patient’s bulimia is related to seasonal affective disorder then light therapy is used. But, the desired results are due to the decrease in depression and not the elimination of binge-purge behavior in bulimic patients. In research, guided imagery has been found to minimize binging and purging by nearly three-quarters. In this method, the patient listens to audiotapes where images are evoked that will help in achieving treatment goals. Acupuncture entails choosing points in the abdomen where there is a balance of Qi as well as good blood and oxygen circulation. This remedial treatment operates on the assumption that lack of energy balance in the system leads to eating disorders. This therapeutic method allegedly causes endorphins to be emitted, minimizes stress, and boosts the digestive and endocrine functions.

Posted by mlukrio at 9:01 am & Filed under Bulimia | Tagged Bulimia, treatments |