An analysis of the self-report diaries of patients with bulimia nervosa

D.Litt. et Phil.Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder that has stimulated considerable research efforts in recent years. The increasing prevalence of bulimia nervosa has been partially attributed to the prevailing sociocultural notion that thinness embodies the essence of beauty, success and personal achievement. This has led to greater deinands for more efficacious treatment approaches by clinicians because of the rigid and intractable nature of the disorder. Bulimia nervosa is characterized by dysfunctional cognitions and cognitive styles where weight is inappropriately central to self-worth. Bulimic individuals are extremely negative in their views of themselves. Their self-image is intricately related to their body weight and shape. This poor body image is responsible for the development of depression and the depressive symptoms further exacerbate negative cognitions. Distorted cognitions and negative mood thus play a critical role in the initiation and maintenance of bulimia nervosa. The understanding and treatment of bulimia nervosa is largely centered around the presence of dysfunctional cognitions. These cognitions encompass beliefs about food, body weight and shape that manifest in a desperate pursuit for thinness at any cost. Thoughts and emotions regarding the drive for thinness predominate and often compromise the individuals' global functioning thus leading them to seek treatment. There are numerous treatment approaches available to the bulimic sufferer but cognitive behavioural therapy remains the treatment of choice according to the literature