PLYMOUTH MEETING, PA Think you can recognize someone suffering from bulimia nervosa? It's not easy. Many myths exist about who develops bulimia nervosa and why, but the facts show that females and males, young and old, and people from every socioeconomic class are affected by this potentially devastating eating disorder. Many of those who have the disorder take great pains to hide it from the people who care the most about them. Family and friends are often left wondering what's going on and how to help. Now for the first time, family and friends who want to support someone with bulimia nervosa have a one-stop comprehensive resource at www.bulimiaguide.org.
The content of this Web site was created by ECRI (www.ecri.org), a nonprofit agency and Collaborating Center of the World Health Organization, under a grant from the Hilda and Preston Davis Foundation. The Bulimia Nervosa Treatment Resource Guide Web site provides in-depth information about the disorder, risk factors, diagnosis, treatment options, treatment effectiveness, costs of care, and maximizing insurance benefits for care. This is the only site that compares the effectiveness of treatments for bulimia nervosa based on the results of a systematic review and analysis of published clinical studies.
ECRI's approach in producing this resource is exceptional in the field of patient information. "From the outset, the work on this resource was guided by families and patients with concerns about bulimia nervosa. The intent is to equip patients and consumers with the information and tools they need to understand and weigh the risks and benefits of their healthcare options," said Diane Robertson, Director of ECRI's Health Technology Assessment Information Service.
The Web site answers important questions, such as: How can I support someone with bulimia nervosa? What are the signs and symptoms? Who's at risk for developing bulimia nervosa? How is bulimia diagnosed? What are the do's and don'ts for being supportive? What treatments are effective? How do I find a treatment center? How can I maximize our insurance benefits? Based on data published in ECRI's health technology assessment report, the guide also answers four key questions regarding the effectiveness of drug therapy, psychotherapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy.
A wealth of useful resources can be found on the Web site including a printable 64-page version of the resource guide, Bulimia Nervosa: Resource Guide for Family and Friends, and a handy 12-page summary of the guide. The comprehensive evidence report, Efficacy of Treatments for Bulimia Nervosa, also posted as a downloadable PDF, contains the methods and results of ECRI's extensive meta-analyses on psychotherapy, prescription drug therapy, and other therapies for the condition. Also highly beneficial to patients, consumers, family and friends are the site's informative databases, including a searchable directory of residential facilities that treat bulimia nervosa on an inpatient and outpatient basis, a listing of ongoing clinical trials, a review of mental health mandates and parity laws, information on healthcare insurers with coverage policies for bulimia nervosa, and links to other relevant resources.
"This outstanding website provides a wealth of information to patients with bulimia nervosa and their families. It is often difficult to understand the symptoms of an eating disorder and many people do not recognize how dangerous bulimia can be. The website outlines what is known about the causes of bulimia nervosa, describes the physiological complications that can occur, and provides a detailed evaluation of the treatments that have been found to be useful." states Pauline Powers, M.D., president of the National Eating Disorders Association, and Director of Psychosomatic Medicine Division, Professor, Department of Psychiatry at the University of South Florida. "The sections about accessing appropriate treatment and insurance policy/benefits were extremely informative and useful," says Powers.
ECRI partnered with a clinical advisory committee and many patients and family members affected by the disorder to create the guide and Web site. Bulimia Advisory Committee Member Richard Roberts, M.D., J.D., family physician and past president of American Academy of Family Physicians, describes the resource as "Wonderfully done - an extraordinary compendium of information and resources." Marti Noller, Insurance Analyst, Laureate Psychiatric Clinic and Hospital, proclaims, "This guide is a real treasure of information and it has been needed by the public for along time. This will give families a valuable resource in their attempt to provide necessary care for a family member."
The resource guide is part of ECRI's National Patient Library™ of evidence-based patient information. ECRI has nearly 40 years of experience providing information and technical assistance to the healthcare community to support safe and cost-effective patient care.
For more information about the ECRI or the Bulimia Nervosa Resource Guide for Family and Friends (www.bulimiaguide.org), visit www.ecri.org, or contact ECRI by mail at 5200 Butler Pike, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462-1298, USA; by telephone at (610) 825-6000, ext. 5170; by fax at (610) 834-1275; or by e-mail at communications@ecri.org.
