Background:
Individuals with bulimia nervosa (BN) and related disorders typically do not receive treatment for an eating problem. Poor mental health literacy may account for this. We examined mental health literacy relating to BN in a community sample of young adult women (n = 158) with bulimic-type eating disorders.
Methods:
A vignette was presented describing a fictional person meeting diagnostic criteria for BN. A series of questions followed in which participants were asked about the nature and treatment of the problem described.
Results:
Primary care practitioners, psychologists, counselors and close friends were perceived as helpful in the treatment of the problem described by the vast majority of participants. Self-help interventions, including taking vitamins and minerals, also were highly regarded, whereas participants were ambivalent about the benefits of psychiatrists and antipathetic toward the use of prescription medication. Most participants believed that the problem would be difficult to treat, and that relapse would be likely, and were treatment successful. At the same time, most participants believed that the problem described was common among women in the community and many had thought that ‘it might not be too bad’ to have the problem described. When asked about the ‘main problem’ of the person described in the vignette, the modal response (48.4%) was ‘low self-esteem’.
Conclusions:
Attitudes and beliefs likely to be conducive to low or inappropriate treatment seeking exist among individuals with eating disorders in the community. These need to be targeted in prevention and early intervention programs.
