Initial
assessment involves a comprehensive medical and psychiatric evaluation
with appropriate laboratory tests as indicated. Medications have been
found effective for bulimia and can be initiated. One type of psychotherapy,
cognitive behavioral therapy,results in an 80% reduction in bulimic
symptoms after 20 weeks and has a 60% remission rate after one year
and can be carried out in individual or group settings over 20 sessions
on the average. Psychotherapy sessions can also be oriented toward social
anxiety or obsessive compulsive disorder, depending on the individual.
