Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Group therapy for bulimia: Clinical experience and practical recommendations

  • Published:
Group

Abstract

The authors identify and describe three major types of group therapy for patients with bulimia. Psychodynamic treatment, cognitive-behavioral treatment, and self-help group treatment are techniques with different theoretical bases. Implications for group membership, time frame, leadership, contract, content, and goals are discussed for each type of group treatment. Outcome studies are reviewed, and recommendations are offered for a rational approach to the group treatment of patients with bulimia.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Boskind-Lodahl, M., & White, W. (1978). The definition and treatment of bulimarexia in college women — a pilot study.Journal of the American College Health Association, 27, 84–86

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bruch, H. (1977). Psychotherapy of eating disorders.Canadian Psychiatric Association Journal, 22, 102–106

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fairburn, C. G. (1981). A cognitive-behavioral approach to the management of bulimia.Psychological Medicine, 11, 707–711

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Halmi, K. A., Falk, J. R., & Schwartz, E. (1981). Binge-eating and vomiting: A survey of a college population.Psychological Medicine, 11, 697–706

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Herzog, D. B. (1982). Bulimia in the adolescent.American Journal of Diseases in Children, 136, 984–989

    Google Scholar 

  • Hudson, J. I., Pope, H. G., Jonas, J. M. et al. (1983). Phenomenologic relationship of eating disorders to major affective disorder.Psychiatry Research, 9, 345–354

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, C., Connels, M., & Stuckey, M. (1983). Short-term group treatment of bulimia.International Journal of Eating Disorders, 2(4), 199–208

    Google Scholar 

  • Pope, H. G., Hudson, J. I., & Yurgelun-Todd, D. (1984). Anorexia nervosa and bulimia among 300 suburban women shoppers.American Journal of Psychiatry, 141, 292–294

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rutan, S., & Alonso, A. (1979) Group psychotherapy. In A. Lazare (Ed.),Outpatient psychiatry (pp. 612–620). Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rutan, S., & Alonso, A. (1980). Sequential cotherapy of groups for training and clinical care.Group, 4(1), 43–50

    Google Scholar 

  • Rutan, S., & Alonso, A. (1982). Group therapy, individual therapy or both?International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 32(3), 268–282

    Google Scholar 

  • Stevens, E. V., & Salisbury, J. D. (1984). Group therapy for bulimic adults.American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 54(1), 156–161

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Strober, M., Salkin, B., & Burroughs, J. (1982). Validity of the bulimia-restricter distinction in anorexia nervosa.Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 170,(6), 345–350

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • White, W., & Boskind-White, M. (1981). An experiential-behavioral approach to the treatment of bulimarexia.Journal of Psychotherapy Theory and Research, 18, 501–507

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, USA

    Andrew W. Brotman M.D. (Clinical Fellow in Psychiatry), Anne Alonso Ph.D. (Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry) & David B. Herzog M.D. (Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Director)

  2. Bating Disorders Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, USA

    David B. Herzog M.D. (Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Director)

Authors
  1. Andrew W. Brotman M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Anne Alonso Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. David B. Herzog M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Supported in part by a grant from the Gen-Rad Foundation.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Brotman, A.W., Alonso, A. & Herzog, D.B. Group therapy for bulimia: Clinical experience and practical recommendations. Group 9, 15–23 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01456577

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01456577

Keywords

Search

Navigation