Therapy and one on one counseling are suggested world wide web based bulimia treatment. Only in cases that are severe and with a patient’s non-response to the initial treatments is hospitalization necessary.
Of all the different treatments for bulimia, cognitive behavioral methods are the most widespread. This is often the preferred first treatment as studies have shown that this treatment is successful in more than half of the cases. For learning coping skills and relapse prevention, nutrition counseling is included in cognitive behavioral therapy. Interpersonal therapy is another psychological treatment. This type of therapy deals with the emotional aspects like depression that influenced the eating disorder. If the patient’s bulimia is in the early stages, and their health has not been severely compromised, it is helpful for support group therapy. Another treatment that might work is family therapy. Positive results have been reported when this method was used, as opposed to interpersonal therapy, since the family, a vital support factor, is supported and utilized also.
For patients exhibiting signs of depression, drugs for the treatment of bulimia is given. It is advised by the experts, though, that CBT, a psychological therapy, is done in combination with drugs. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors compose antidepressants. There are different pharmaceutical substances provided to patients to help with issues like vomiting. Sometimes antiepileptic drugs are given after studies have shown that they reduce episodes of bingeing 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. However more studies are to be conducted and the effectiveness of these treatments have yet to be proven for a wide number of cases. Hypnosis, light therapy, guided imagery and acupuncture are some of the less traditional treatments.
Hypnosis seems to have a better success rate when used on women with bulimia, but those who are anorexic are resistant to this treatment. 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. Guided imagery on the other hand has been reported by studies to reduce the binge-purge behavior by almost 75%. With this treatment, tapes filled with evocative imagery to facilitate attainment of treatment objectives are listened to by patients. In acupuncture, points in the stomach are selected so that the qi is balanced and proper circulation of oxygen and blood is maintained. This treatment is based on the idea that eating disorders are due to energy imbalances in the body. The treatment claims to release endorphins, aid in reducing stress, and strengthen the body’s endocrine and digestive systems.