Treating Bulimia Nervosa
The goals of treatment are:
- To stop binging and purging
- To focus self-esteem away from body weight and shape
Treatments include:
Cognitive behavioral therapy can be very effective. It may be particularly effective when combined with drug treatment.
Other therapies may be less effective, but can help patients:
- Gain insight into the problem
- Recognize what triggers binging and purging
- Develop new coping skills
- Learn and practice stress-management techniques
- Talk about feelings
- Develop a more appropriate idea of thinness
- Develop healthier attitudes about eating
- Learn to eat regularly to reduce the urge to binge
Antidepressant drugs, particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), have proven effective in helping reduce these behaviors.
***Please note FDA Public Health Advisory for Antidepressants:
The FDA advises that people taking antidepressants should be closely observed. For some, the medications have been linked to worsening symptoms and suicidal thoughts. These adverse effects are most common in young adults. The effects tend to occur at the beginning of treatment or when there is an increase or decrease in the dose.Although the warning is for all antidepressants, of most concern are the SSRI class such as:
- Prozac ( fluoxetine ), Zoloft ( sertraline ), Paxil ( paroxetine ), Luvox ( fluvoxamine ), Celexa ( citalopram ), Lexapro( escitalopram )
For more information, please visit:
http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/antidepressants/