Explanations of the origin of eating disorders range from biological theory, which studies metabolic, hormonal, and genetic influences, to cognitive theory, which emphasizes illogical thought processes. Although these theories have components that help explain the etiology of eating disorders, systems theory takes into consideration the significance of family in the development of eating disorders. The authors propose that systems theory coupled with family therapy can be successful in the treatment of bulimia.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
American Psychiatric Association. (1987). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (3rd ed., rev.) Washington, DC: Author.
2.
AndreasenN.EndicottJ.SpitzerR., & WinokurG. (1977). The family history method using diagnostic criteria. Archives of General Psychiatry, 34, 1229–1235.
3.
BulikC. (1987a). Alcohol use and depression in women with bulimia. American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 13, 343–355.
4.
BulikC. (1987b). Drug and alcohol abuse by bulimic women and their families. American Journal of Psychiatry, 144, 1604–1606.
5.
CarneyC. P.YatesW. R., & CizadloB. (1990). A controlled family study of personality in normal–weight bulimia nervosa. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 9, 659–665.
6.
GershonE.HamovitJ.SchreiberJ.DibbleE.KayeW.NurnbergerJ.AndersonA., & EbertM. (1983). Anorexia nervosa and major affective disorders associated in families: A preliminary report. In GuzeS.EarlsF., & BarrettJ. (Eds.), Childhood psychopathology and development (pp. 279–286). New York: Raven Press.
7.
HalmiK.FalkJ., & SchwartzE. (1981). Binge eating and vomiting: A survey of a college population. Psychological Medicine, 11, 697–706.
8.
HawkinsR., & ClementP. (1980). Development and construct validation of a self-report measure of binge eating tendencies. Addictive Behaviors, 5, 219–226.
9.
HermanP., & MackD. (1975). Restrained and unrestrained eating. Journal of Personality, 43, 647–660.
10.
HudsonJ.PopeH.JonasJ.ToddD., & FrankenbergF. (1987). A controlled family history study of bulimia. Psychological Medicine, 17, 883–890.
11.
HumphreyL. (1986). Family relations in bulimic–anorexic and nondistress families. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 5, 223–232.
12.
JohnsonC., & FlachA. (1985). Family characteristics of 105 patients with bulimia. American Journal of Psychiatry, 142, 1321–1324.
13.
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. (1983). Metropolitan height and weight tables.New York: Society of Actuaries and Association of Life Insurance Medical Directors.
OlsonD. H.BellR., & PortnerJ. (1978). Family adaptability and cohesion evaluation scale. Family Social Science, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN.
16.
OrdmanA., & KirschenbaumD. (1985). Cognitive-behavior therapy for bulimia: An initial outcome study. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 53, 305–313.
17.
PokornyA.ByronA., & KaplanH. (1972). The brief MAST: A shortened version of the Michigan Alcohol Screening Test. American Journal of Psychiatry, 129, 342–345.
18.
PyleR.MitchellJ.EckertE.HalvorsenP.NeumanP., & GoffG. (1983). The incidence of bulimia in freshman college students. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 2, 75–85.
19.
SchwartzR. (1982). Bulimia and family therapy: A case study. International Journal of Eating Disorders.2, 75–82.
20.
SchwartzR.BarrettM., & SabaG. (1985). Family therapy for bulimia. In GamerD., & GarfunkelP. (Eds.), Handbook of psychotherapy for anorexia nervosa and bulimia (pp. 280–306). New York: Guilford Press.
21.
SellerM. (1971). The Michigan Alcohol Screening Test: The quest for a new diagnostic instrument. American Journal of Psychiatry, 127, 1653–1658.
22.
SightsJ., & RichardsH. (1984). Parents of bulimic women. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 3, 3–14.
23.
StanglerR., & PrintzA. (1980). Psychiatric diagnosis in a university population. American Journal of Psychiatry, 137, 648–652.
24.
SternS.DixonK.NemzerE.LakeM.SansoreR.SmeltzerD.LantzS., & SchrierS. (1989). Family environment in anorexia nervosa and bulimia. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 8, 25–31.
25.
YatesW. R. (1992). Weight factors in normal weight bulimia nervosa: A controlled family study. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 11, 227–234.
26.
ZimmermanM., & CoryellW. (1987). The inventory to diagnose depression—lifetime version. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavia, 75, 495–499.
