Longitudinal assessment of body image disturbances in patients with bulimia nervosa submitted to multidisciplinary treatment

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Increase the comprehension of body image disturbances in patients with bulimia nervosa and its evolution after treatment, multidisciplinary. METHODS: Eleven women answered two body image questionnaires (Body Attitudes Questionnaire and Stunkard's Figure Scale) before and after treatment and filled a food diary used to analyze the frequency of bulimia nervosa symptoms. RESULTS: The mean body mass index was found at normal weight category before and after treatment. Approximately 57.0% of the sample had total remission of bulimia nervosa symptoms. In relation to body image based on Stunkard's scale, the size of the figure chosen as ideal increased and body dissatisfaction decreased after treatment. There was no significant reduction in the overestimation of body size, but at the beginning of the treatment 57,1% of the patients did not overestimate their sizes already. Regarding the questionnaire of attitudes, the following variables had a significant decrease: body depreciation, feeling fat, sensation of having lower body fatness and body self-importance. DISCUSSION: The treatment was effective in some attitudinal aspects, but should be improved in regard to others, such as perceptual distortion.