Treating bulimia nervosa in the context of gender dysphoria using 10-session cognitive behavior therapy

This case report describes the psychological treatment for bulimia nervosa of a 16-year old with co-occurring gender dysphoria. He reported restricting his food intake and purging for approximately 1 year prior to therapy commencing.

Ten sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy for eating disorders (CBT-T) were conducted with accommodations for gender-specific body dissatisfaction.

The client eliminated binging and purging from the second treatment session and had maintained this at the 3-month follow-up. The quantity and variety of foods he was eating had increased and he no longer reported subjective binges. Improvements were also evident in his depression, anxiety and stress symptoms.

This suggests that bulimia nervosa may be effectively treated with CBT-T in the context of gender dysphoria. Further research that investigates the generalizability of these outcomes would be beneficial.