Treatment Plan for Bulimia Nervosa - Case Study Example

Treatment plan for Bulimia Nervosa Affiliation: Treatment plan for Bulimia Nervosa Many people turn to food once they feel bored, stressed or lonely. However, with Bulimia Nervosa, it is a different thing. People who have Bulimia Nervosa eating disorder try to control their weight through the use of different methods. Bulimia Nervosa disorder is characterized by overindulge eating and unfitting compensatory behaviors, for instance, fasting, vomiting, misuse of laxatives, enemas, or diuretics, and excessive exercise (Fairburn, 2008). Even though, the etiology of Bulimia Nervosa disorder is unknown, neurochemical and genetic factors have been implicated. According to Agras and Apple (2008), Bulimia Nervosa disorder is ten times more common in females that it is in males, and it impacts up to three percent of young women. Notably, the condition becomes symptomatic between the ages of thirteen and twenty years. This disorder has other psychiatric conditions such as substance abuse. Fairburn and Brownell (2005) denote that serious complications of this disorder are uncommon, however, patients with this disorder may suffer from swollen salivary glands, dental erosion, gastrointestinal irritation, and oral and hand trauma. Substantial research has been conducted to identify the effective psychological and pharmacologic treatments for Bulimia Nervosa disorder. However, this paper outlines a treatment plan for Bulimia Nervosa disorder that includes the use of cognitive-behavioral therapy. Cognitive-behavioral therapy Eating disorders are chronic if proper treatment is not applied. In some cases, hospitalization may be essential during the first phase of treatment of Bulimia Nervosa disorder. This is to monitor medical health and restore the patient’s healthy weight. According to Fairburn (2008), low blood pressure, cardiac problems, soft hair on body, severe constipation, loss of menstrual period, thyroid problems, drop in body temperature (continual feelings of coldness), and osteopenia/osteoporosis are among the severe medical consequences of Anorexia Nervosa disorder. Once a patient has achieved a medically stable weight, Cognitive-behavioral therapy can be beneficial and effective for preventing relapse. Results from numerous studies reveal that Cognitive-behavioral therapy is the most effectual form of treatment of Bulimia Nervosa disorder. Notably, cognitive-behavioral therapy addresses the societal, familial, and psychological factors that are associated with eating disorders. It directly targets the behaviors and problematic thinking that maintain eating disorder. However, the treatment strategies for Bulimia Nervosa disorder for this plan include: Educating about Bulimia Nervosa disorder, including nutritious data Securing a customary example of eating through checking toward oneself of eating examples Testing inflexible principles about eating and reintroducing "forbidden foods" once more into ones eating routine Investigating the triggers for scenes of pigging out, and discovering options systems for adapting to these triggers Examining the sources of ones overemphasis on shape and weight, and discovering options approaches for assessing oneself Tending to hazardous intuition designs that frequently portray d Bulimia Nervosa disorder, for example, compulsiveness and "all-or-nothing" thinking. Killing regular checking of ones body shape or ones propensity to abstain from taking a gander at ones body Focusing on interpersonal issues, low respect toward oneself, and/or hairsplitting, if any of these variables have all the earmarks of being keeping up eating confused practices In the treatment of Bulimia Nervosa disorder, three phases of cognitive behavioral therapy can be applied. These phases apply to inpatients and outpatients. The phases include behavioral phase, cognitive phase, and Maintenance and Relapse Prevention Phase. 1. Behavioral phase In this phase, the therapist and the patient work together to articulate a plan for eliminating symptoms caused by the disorder and to stabilize eating. However, emotions may intensify in this phase of treatment. This means that coping strategies for managing these feelings have to be developed, and they become an important part of the treatment process. Cognitive-behavioral therapy includes in-session activities between the patient and the therapist and ‘homework’ to practice new behaviors. 2. Cognitive phase As the process of treatment progresses, there will be the introduction of cognitive restructuring techniques. These techniques aim at identifying and changing the problem thinking patterns. Beliefs and thoughts that perpetuate the problems, for instance, I will be happy if I lose this weight, are named. Thereafter, work meant for developing new perspectives and ideas such as my worth does not rest on my shape or size begin. Moreover, during this phase of treatment of Bulimia Nervosa disorder, broader concerns for instance body size, emotional regulation, and relation problems are covered. 3. Maintenance and Relapse Prevention Phase This is the final stage. This stage mainly concentrates on preventing relapse, maintaining progress achieved, and reducing any triggers. Even though, Cognitive-behavioral therapy mainly focuses on eliminating the symptoms, the overall objective of this treatment plan is to assist the patients in making a return to a fulfilling and healthy life. Therefore, very frequent, once the symptoms of the disorder are stabilized, the treatment will expand. The expansion is to include other areas of conflict and concern that can assist the patient move towards emotional well-being and holistic healing. Weight loss The majority of patients that suffer Bulimia Nervosa disorder are below normal weight range. Therefore, this treatment plan targets two main goals – weight gain management and ending problematic eating behaviors. Agras and Apple (2008) assert that behavioral weight gain treatment is currently the most efficient method for weight gain. Behavioral treatment in Cognitive-behavioral therapy stresses the importance of gradual weight gain. This is achieved by setting realistic dietary. Patients will learn new strategies necessary for meal planning, portion control, and healthy eating. They will also learn different methods for coping with triggers. The patients can visit a registered dietitian who can conduct a food analysis and recommend the dietary changes the patient needs. Time period for the treatment This cognitive-behavioral treatment plan for Bulimia Nervosa disorder lasts for roughly twenty weeks. Cognitive-behavioral therapy for relapse prevention for patients with Bulimia Nervosa disorder can vary in length depending on the need. The treatment sessions should be held weekly. However, the therapist and the patient should decide on the appropriate length of treatment on the basis of the patient’s symptoms. Requirements of the patients Cognitive-behavioral therapy treatment for Bulimia Nervosa disorder may be anxiety-provoking to most patients. However, patients become at ease with the therapy once they have observed how quickly it disrupts the problematic eating behaviors and the cycle of dieting (Fairburn, 2008). Effectiveness of Cognitive-behavioral therapy The Cognitive-behavioral therapy plan discussed above predominantly involves a series of interventions that are aimed at addressing the cognitive aspects related to Bulimia Nervosa disorder. These aspects include weight and food, low self-esteem, perfectionism, the preoccupation with the body, and dichotomous thinking. This therapy plan also addresses the behavioral components of Cognitive-behavioral therapy such as purging, disturbed eating habits, binge eating, ritualistic exercise, and dieting. The initial goal of this Cognitive-behavioral therapy plan is to reinstate control over the dietary intake. Dieting efforts and Caloric restriction endeavors that set patients up to fling are stayed away from. Patients regularly record their sustenance admission and sentiments. They then get far-reaching criticism concerning their supper arrangement, side effect triggers, caloric admission and healthful equalization. Patients are likewise trained in psychological systems for testing unbending thought designs, techniques for enhancing assertiveness training, self-esteem and the recognizable proof and proper articulation of feelings. A careful clarification of psychological, behavioral treatment for the treatment of bulimia nervosa is accessible somewhere else. When intervening with children, it is especially vital to incorporate the parents and family in the treatment process. Parents can encourage positive conduct change by making a restorative home environment and minimizing negative jolts to bolster sound propensities. For those youngsters and youths who may be impervious to treatment, parents have the capacity to serve as implementers of important alterations. Besides, parents can show the sound way of life decisions and fortify the adolescents advancement. While early mediation is compelling, it is just as critical to direct our center to avoidance. Anticipation endeavors offer the chance to decrease the onset and pervasiveness of weight-related issues. As our comprehension of danger components and indicators of treatment result has developed, we are very much prepared to create proper preventive systems. Further, on the grounds that weight is repeating (i.e., overweight parents are more inclined to have overweight kids, who are additionally more inclined to wind up overweight grown-ups) expanded activities for parents and children would empower an essential decrease in the expanding weight patterns. Fruitful spearheading research in this space exhibits the utility of preventive work. Conclusion The Cognitive-behavioral therapy plan above for bulimia nervosa disorder mainly focuses on excessive concerns about body shape and weight, unfitting compensatory behavior, and binge-eating. Moreover, the treatment combines behavioral therapy and cognitive therapy. The Cognitive therapy attempts to modify the beliefs, attitudes, and dysfunctional thought that conserve bulimic behaviors. The behavioral therapy mainly concentrations upon adjusting the patient’s problematic behavioral responses such as binge-eating episodes to dysfunctional thoughts or environmental stimuli through different techniques such as exposure with response prevention and stimulus control. References Agras, W. S., & Apple, R. F. (2008). Overcoming your eating disorder: A cognitive-behavioral treatment for bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Fairburn, C. G. (2008). Cognitive behavior therapy and eating disorders. New York: Guilford Press. Fairburn, C. G., & Brownell, K. D. (2005). Eating disorders and obesity: A comprehensive handbook. New York: Guilford. Read More