The current status of treatment for anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa

A survey investigating the current status of treatment for anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa was distributed at the International Conference on Eating Disorders in 1988 and again in 1990. Respondents answered questions regarding treatments they had endorsed for their last patient with anorexia nervosa and/or bulimia nervosa. One hundred and seven medical doctors and psychologists completed the survey in 1988 and 115 in 1990. The results indicate that: (1) less than 50% of the respondents believe there is a consensus regarding the treatment of eating disorders; (2) talking therapy is overwhelmingly endorsed for the treatment of both anorexia and bulimia nervosa; (3) there is a trend in clinical practice towards using drug therapy more frequently in treating patients with bulimia nervosa than in treating patients with anorexia nervosa; (4) physicians are more likely than psychologists to endorse drug therapy when treating patients with anorexia and/or bulimia nervosa; and (5) about one third of the respondents endorse drug therapy for treating anorexia nervosa