CONFLICT-ORIENTED AND SYMPTOM-ORIENTED SH ORT-TERM PSYCHOTHERAPY FOR BULIMIA-NERVOSA - A TREATMENT MANUAL

A research-based program for the disorder specific treatment of bulimi a nervosa in 25 sessions is presented. It's effectiveness is well esta blished. It provides the basis for major ongoing studies of therapy pr ocess and effectiveness. The concept was successfully applied to more than 200 unselected in- and outpatients in individual, group and combi ned therapies with high, low and flexible session frequency by doctors , psychologists, nurses and social workers of different theoretical or ientation. It uses cognitive-behavioral techniques within a psychodyna mic framework. The treatment is sequentially structured (preparatory, opening, main and closing stages). Therapeutic goals and procedures ar e specified for each stage. The therapeutic instruments (therapy, cont ract, diary, checklist, list of recommended carbohydrates) are describ ed with special emphasis on their use within the therapeutic relations hip. Special issues like persistence of symptoms, resistance and typic al (counter-) transference reactions are discussed.