Study of Treatment for Adolescents With Bulimia Nervosa

Inclusion Criteria:

   1. Participants will be adolescents living with at least one of their parents and between
   the ages of 12 and 18 years of age with a DSM IV diagnosis of BN or partial BN (binge
   eating and purging at least one time per week over a six month period).

   2. Males meeting inclusion criteria will also be entered into the study. They must have
   age-adjusted BMI greater than 17.5, or ideal body weight (IBW) > 85%.

   3. Family, for the purposes of this study, includes members of the subject's household,
   including at least one parent or adult guardian. Single parent families, divorced
   families, step-parents, and other types of families will be allowed to enter the
   study.

Exclusion Criteria:

   1. psychotic illness or other mental illness requiring hospitalization; bipolar I
   disorder, depression with active suicidal thoughts and behavior;

   2. associated physical illness that necessitates hospitalization;

   3. current dependence on drugs or alcohol;

   4. current diagnosis of anorexia nervosa or weight less that 85% IBW;

   5. physical conditions (e.g. diabetes mellitus, pregnancy) known to influence eating or
   weight;

   6. currently taking medication for co-morbid conditions for less than 2-months;

   7. currently taking medications that may induce weight loss, e.g., appetite suppressants
   such as sibutramine, phentermine, and xenical, unless the participant is willing to
   withdraw from such medications;

   8. currently taking medications for symptoms of BN and unwilling to discontinue these
   prior to initiating treatment in the study

   9. previous CBT or FBT treatment for BN

10. married subjects

11. emancipated minors

12. family members will be excluded from engaging in treatment for the following reasons:

      - Current or history of sexual or physical abuse of the patient by family members.
      Perpetrators of the abuse will be excluded from treatment. Should sexual or
      physical abuse by a family member occur during the course of treatment,
      perpetrators will be excluded from ongoing treatment.

      - Substance dependence, psychosis, or severe medical illness that would limit full
      participation in therapy, or that might put the family member at risk for
      worsening of their condition during treatment. The decision whether or not to
      allow these individuals to continue to participate in treatment will be made by
      the therapist in consultation with the treatment supervisor.