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Using Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy to Treat Adolescent-Onset Bulimia Nervosa: A Case Study

Notre Dame de Namur University, Belmont, CA, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA

James Lock

Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA

This case study describes the treatment of an adolescent female, referred to as Susan, who presented for evaluation at the Eating Disorders Clinic of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Stanford University. Susan presented with symptoms of body image disturbance, dietary restriction, binge eating, self-inducted vomiting, and overexercise, and was diagnosed with bulimia nervosa (BN). She was treated with 20 sessions of manualized cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for BN adjusted for adolescents. Susan's progress throughout treatment is detailed in this case study report. Results lend support to a scant body of case series studies attesting to the efficacy of CBT for use with adolescents with BN. Large-scale, randomized studies are needed to corroborate preliminary conclusions that have been promulgated in this case study.

Key Words: bulimia nervosa • adolescents • eating disorders • cognitive-behavioral therapy

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Clinical Case Studies, Vol. 6, No. 6, 508-524 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/1534650107296822


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This Article Abstract Free Full Text (Free PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Schapman-Williams, A. M. Articles by Lock, J. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?