Abstract

Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterised by binge eating, accompanied by a loss of control over eating and attempts to prevent weight gain by extreme dieting, vomiting, misuse of laxatives and diuretics and excessive exercise. In this article, psychoanalitic approaches, ego psychology, object relations theory, self psychology, socioculturel factors, Stice?s approach, feministic and feministic psychodynamic aspects, the role of family, behavioral and cognitive behavioral approaches in the etiology of bulimia nervosa have been reviewed.

Key words: Bulimia nervosa, psychodynamic theory, cognitive behavioral approaches, feministic approaches, family systems theory