Perceptions of Cognitive Behavioural Guided Self-Help Treatment for Bulimia Nervosa in Primary Care

Abstract

This study examined perceptions of 36 women who participated in Guided Self-Help (GSH) treatment for bulimia nervosa delivered by general practitioners (GPs) in primary care. Qualitative responses revealed factors perceived to contribute toward treatment effectiveness including: improved eating behaviours, body image and emotional and general well-being; the empathic and practical style of the manual; specific behavioural strategies; GP facilitated positive therapeutic alliance and interventions with program implementation; and accessible treatment. Factors perceived as contributing to treatment ineffectiveness concerned: lack of changes to eating and body image; inadequacies of treatment program and approach; inadequate treatment dose; poor service delivery; and perceptions of low GP competence/professionalism and poor therapeutic alliance.

The research reported in this article comprises aspects of the first author's PhD thesis and was supported by NHMRC grant (No. 114245) and an Adelaide University Grant to Susan Paxton and Phillipa Hay.

The authors thank Natasha Hepworth for her assistance in coding responses.