There is a marked contrast between the strength of the evidence bases guiding
treatment of adolescents with anorexia nervosa (AN) and adolescents
with bulimia nervosa (BN). It has been recognized that effective treatment for
adolescents with AN requires different approaches to that used with adults
given the particular developmental stage and life cycle of the family (Dare,
Eisler, Russell, & Szmukler, 1990) and it is now well established that psychological
treatment for AN should include family interventions that directly
target the eating disorder (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
[NICE], 2004). However, while there is a good evidence base for the treatment
of adults with BN (Hay, 2013; NICE, 2004) the evidence base for treatment
of BN in adolescence is scant.