Imagery rescripting within cognitive behavior therapy for bulimia nervosa: an illustrative case report.

OBJECTIVE

This case report describes the use of imagery rescripting as an adjunct to cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) for bulimia nervosa.

METHODS

The patient was a 22-year-old woman, who had a 6-year history of diagnosable eating problems, with no comorbid diagnosis. She had a history of emotional abuse by her family. The single session of imagery rescripting was aimed at effecting change in the core beliefs that were hypothesized to result from that emotional abuse, and hence in the associated bulimic psychopathology.

RESULTS

While eight sessions of conventional CBT reduced symptom behaviors by 50%, one session of imagery rescripting led to an almost complete cessation of the remaining binge-purge behaviors. This effect was maintained at 14 weeks post-imagery.

CONCLUSIONS

Imagery rescripting appears to be a valuable adjunct to conventional CBT in working with cases where there is an early history of trauma. Implications for treatment of eating disorders using this technique are considered, and relevant research designs are discussed.