A description of 144 bulimic women who contacted a research program for help

Abstract

This paper described in detail 144 Australian women diagnosed bulimic using DS M-III criteria. All subjects had been referred to the Eating Awareness Program at La Trobe University or had contacted the program following media interviews about the program. All subjects completed the Bulimia Test, and a questionnaire describing the history of the problem and prior attempts to overcome it. In addition, 90 subjects were offered treatment and completed a further battery of tests (e.g., other measures of bulimic symptomatology and general psychological adjustment) prior to undertaking therapy. The frequency of bulimic symptoms, such as binge eating, vomiting, laxative use, weight fluctuations, and crash dieting were reported. Duration and chronological development of these symptoms were described, as were self-reported reasons for relapse. Most subjects stated they had previously discussed their eating problem with friends or relatives and helping professionals. Subjects' evaluations of these contacts were reported. Family history of eating and psychological problems were described.