An integrative approach to the treatment of bulimia nervosa: Cognitive behavior therapy with a dynamic approach

The present chapter aims to describe an alternative treatment model for bulimia nervosa (BN), integrating cognitive behavioral and short-term dynamic therapies. Referred to as conflict-oriented Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CO-CBT), this model focuses on the underlying emotional and dynamic aspects of BN more than does traditional CBT. The need for such an integration emerges from the necessity to focus more on the underlying conflicts attached to the disorder, which do not receive sufficient consideration in the traditional existing CBT model. The chapter briefly reviews the basics of cognitive behavioral treatment, as well as the short-term dynamic treatment for patients with BN and then describes the development and characteristics of the suggested integrated treatment model. A case study is presented followed by discussion on the strength and importance of the proposed model as compared to traditional existing treatments for BN and their efficacy.