Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a treatment that approaches the patient in a cognitive-behavioral way. The practice focuses on the psychosocial aspects of treating them. There are several different components to Dialectical Behavior Therapy including enhancing people's capabilities and motivations, including the family in treatment, bringing structure into the person's life, and a team of consultants for the therapist. These components work together to help the patients with problem-solving, encouraging behavioral change, and helping to regulate emotions.
The treatment looks at how people react to certain emotional situations and identifies the ways their reactions do not seem normal. DBT stresses the relationship between social factors and individual behavior. It will teach an individual how to deal with sudden surges of emotion in a healthy way. DBT will help a person identify the thoughts and beliefs that make their lives harder. People being treated will work out problems that they are having in their lives and relationships with their therapist. They will do homework assignments and role-play with their therapist to learn how to deal with certain situations.
Mindfulness is a key component of the therapy and helps patients observe the way they react to things and then responding to it and analyzing how they felt when things got out of hand. They can start to regulate their emotions, accept reality, and interpersonal effectiveness. These are three of the skills they will be taught throughout their therapy.
Since Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Groups help to find better coping mechanisms it can be very effective in treating bulimia nervosa. Usually the reason someone binges and purges is because of deeply negative emotions, and trying to relieve emotional and mental anguish. Some of the main components of DBT are to instill value in the person and a self love so they don't keep participating in harmful behaviors.
DBT will teach people suffering from bulimia nervosa how to pinpoint the causes of their disease. They will learn what triggers their desire to purge and will learn different ways to respond to the same situation. This might be finding a healthy distraction, or learning how to stop and be in the moment. If they can ask questions about their urges in the moment then they might be able to stop themselves. Dialectical Behavior Therapy helps them be mindful of their feelings and actions. They can then find healthier ways to deal with their stress and emotions.
For an updated, more in-depth look at this topic, see Dialectical Behavior Therapy DBT.