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Cognitive‐behavioural therapy for individuals with bulimia nervosa and a co‐occurring substance use disorder
Author(s) -
Sysko Robyn,
Hildebrandt Tom
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
european eating disorders review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.511
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1099-0968
pISSN - 1072-4133
DOI - 10.1002/erv.906
Subject(s) - bulimia nervosa , eating disorders , impulsivity , psychology , clinical psychology , personality disorders , cognition , comorbidity , borderline personality disorder , psychiatry , substance abuse , substance use , etiology , psychotherapist , personality , social psychology
Abstract A significant percentage of individuals with bulimia nervosa (BN) also can be diagnosed with a co‐occurring substance use disorder (SUD). Although studies have addressed the frequency of overlap between the disorders, etiology and shared personality traits, limited research is available about the treatment of these comorbid patients. Adapting cognitive‐behaviour therapy (CBT) to serve as an integrated treatment for patients with both BN and a SUD is a viable option, as studies of CBT suggest that this form of treatment is efficacious for both disorders independently. The shared strategies in CBT for BN and SUDs facilitate the development of a combined treatment for individuals with both disorders with the addition of modules designed to address some common features of these disorders, such as motivation, difficulty with interpersonal relationships, reward sensitivity and impulsivity. Future research should begin to evaluate the efficacy of an integrated CBT in treating individuals with BN and a SUD. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.