Predictors of Attitudes Towards Treatments for Bulimia Nervosa

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine, using Mental Health Literacy, acceptability and correlates of acceptability of three treatment interventions for bulimia nervosa; medication, psychological therapy and self-change/lifestyle therapies. Method: A self-report questionnaire to ascertain correlates of attitudes towards the three interventions was used. Respondents (n = 177) were females aged 18–53 years. Results: Psychological therapy was rated the most acceptable treatment to participants as well as the most acceptable to others, and to have most advantages and fewest disadvantages, followed by self-change/lifestyle therapies, and then medication. Social Pressures to be Thin was the most strongly endorsed cause of bulimia, followed by Low Self-Esteem, Eating Behaviour, Relationship and Family Environment, and lastly, Biology. Correlates with acceptability of different treatment approaches were identified. Conclusions: Although no causal link can be assumed from this design, findings suggest that women appear to have a mixed understanding of the different mechanisms that each treatment intervention adopts to treat the causes and symptoms of bulimia, particularly self-change/lifestyle therapies. This may help to explain poor adherence to interventions.