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Diet and Doubt: A Clinical Case Study of Inference-Based Therapy for Bulimia Nervosa.

Author
Abstract
:

There is a recognized overlap between eating disorders (EDs) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in terms of diagnosis, phenomenology, epidemiology, and psychological characteristics related to the disorder. In light of these similarities, a cognitive inference-based therapy (IBT) program, shown to be effective in treating OCD, was adapted for EDs. This case study describes the application of IBT treatment for a 35-year-old woman diagnosed with bulimia nervosa who also demonstrated overvalued ideation related to her body weight and shape. Over a 20-week period, the client's ED pathology significantly decreased. Notably, the frequency of binge episodes was reduced by 90% from pre- to posttreatment and by 100% at 6-month follow-up. Significant reductions were also observed in dietary restriction and overvalued ideation. This case study has important implications for the treatment of individuals with both an ED and strong overvalued ideas.

Year of Publication
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0
Journal
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Journal of cognitive psychotherapy
Volume
:
30
Issue
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4
Number of Pages
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263-276
Date Published
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2016
ISSN Number
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0889-8391
DOI
:
10.1891/0889-8391.30.4.263
Short Title
:
J Cogn Psychother
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