The Effectiveness of Integrative Psychological Therapy in Reducing Bulimia Nervosa Disorder and some Associated Disorders among Female University Students

Abstract

Abstract Objectives: The study aims to verify the effectiveness of integrative psychological therapy in reducing bulimia nervosa disorder and some associated disorders such as anxiety and body image disorder among a sample of female university students at Fayoum University. It also aims to verify the continuity of the program's efficiency in achieving improvement beyond the follow-up period for the study sample. Methods: The total sample consisted of (340) female students at Fayoum University. Their ages ranged from 18 to 23 years. The mean age was 20.18 ± 1.25. The final sample consisted of (27) female students who suffer from Bulimia Nervosa and Psychological disorders associated with it such as body image distortions and anxiety. Their ages ranged from 20 to 23 years old, and the average age was 20.11 ±1.25. The tools included a basic data collection form and Bulimia Nervosa and Psychological disorders Scales. To this end, all integrative therapeutic program scales were used in this study, combining behavioral, cognitive, and positive techniques. Results: The results exhibited a significant reduction in symptoms of bulimia nervosa, anxiety, and body image disorder following the program, compared to their symptoms prior to it. The results also revealed that there were no statistically significant differences in bulimia nervosa, anxiety, and body image disorders between the post-test and the first and second follow-up tests. This demonstrates the effectiveness and efficiency of the program. Conclusions: These results confirmed the effectiveness of integrative psychotherapy in reducing bulimia nervosa, anxiety, and body image disorder after implementing the therapeutic program and after the follow-up. Keywords: Integrative psychotherapy; bulimia nervosa, anxiety-body image disorders, female university