Family-based treatment better than psychotherapy for bulimia

Bulimia patients aged 12 to 19 years who received family-based treatment were less likely to continue to binge and purge than those who received supportive psychotherapy that explored the underlying issues of the disorder, according to a new report. In the study, American researchers analysed 80 patients – 37 with bulimia and 43 with bulimic symptoms. Between 2001 and 2006, 41 were randomly assigned to family-based treatment and 39 to supportive psychotherapy. {openx:269} Family-based treatment involves parents, does not address underlying causes of the condition, seeks to separate bulimics from their symptoms and empowers them to change their behaviours. Supportive…