Bulimia: A Systems Approach to Treatment

Bulimia is a complex syndrome primarily affecting young women. Treating bulimia poses a challenge to the therapist, who must consider how the interactions among sociocultural, individual, and family factors maintain the symptoms. In this book beginning and experienced professionals will find a sensible and comprehensive approach to understanding and treating bulimia. This approach, based on principles of feminist family systems theory, has been proven successful in a clinical pro-gram devoted to the treatment of eating disorders. The authors open with a discussion of the complex sociocultural, familial, and individual developmental factors that contribute to the development of bulimia. Family patterns related to eating disorders are traced through the family life-cycle and even through several generations. Then the authors make a major conceptual contributionâ€"their classification of bulimic families into "perfect," "overprotective," and "chaotic" types. The dynamics and treatment of each family type are illustrated in extensive case studies. While the focus is on families, the authors recognize that the treatment of bulimia, be-cause of the complexity of the syndrome, must be multidimensional. Their comprehensive treatment program includes thorough assessment (with special attention given to substance abuse and the sexual abuse that many of these women have suffered), consultation (which may open the door to family therapy), individual, couples, and group therapies. The relationship of bulimia to affective disorders and the possible need for medication are also discussed. Above all, this is a clinical book, packed with intervention strategies and case examples. It will be invaluable to all family therapists and health-care professionals working with bulimic clients.

I feel that this book is excellent for the clinician, the patient, and the patient's family. It provides characteristic of the bulimic individual, their struggles and the family dynamics often envolved with this disease, as well as much more information that aids in treatment and understanding. This author is truely an expert in the area of eating disorders. I only wish that she would write a book on Anorexia Nervousa, not that this book can't be helpful in a variety of eating disorder cases, a book on Anorexia would just better suit my specific needs. I read it a long time ago, and I had to borrow it from someone. This is why I can't be more specific about its content. I just must emphasize that I know that this author is an expert in eating disorders!