The process of relapse in patients with bulimia

Thirty bulimic patients who had gained control of their eating behavior for a minimum of 2 months but had subsequently relapsed were identified. These patients represented a subsample of a series of 75 patients who had been evaluated in an outpatient eating disorders clinic and followed up at 12 to 75 months. More than one-half of those who relapsed did so within two months of finishing treatment and one-third relapsed while still involved in aftercare therapy. Variables associated with relapse included stressful or difficult situations and feeling anxious, nervous, or depressed. The implications for treatment of these findings are discussed.