Psychodynamic Group Treatment of Young Adult Bulimic Women: Preliminary Positive Results

Abstract

This paper presents preliminary results of symptomatic and behavioral changes and psychodynamic observations for 9 young adult bulimic women treated with psychodynamic group psychotherapy. Pre/post group test results showed significant improvement on all measures of eating pathology, on the EDI ineffectiveness item and the Janis-Field feelings of inadequacy scale as well as on the total score of the Hopkins Symptom checklist. These results were consistent with independent clinical conclusions and with verbal reports of improvements in binging and purging behaviour. Clinical content shed light on the role of the parents, especially the father, in the development of body-image, sense of adequacy and self-esteem, life goals and feminine identification. The authors conclude that clinical observations to date have yielded interesting psychodynamic hypotheses and the initial symptomatic improvements warrant cautious therapeutic optimism.