Interpersonal psychotherapy – an effective tool in the treatment of bulimia nervosa Interpersonal psychotherapy is a type of psychotherapy that was developed by Dr. Weissman in the 1970s while studying the treatment of major depression. Since 2000, interpersonal psychotherapy has been expanded to focus on the treatment of bulimia nervosa, with great success, and is quickly becoming a widely recommended treatment. The importance of interventions targeting interpersonal problems in the rehabilitation of mental disorders First, surveys of good levels of mental health, i.e., sources of a sense of meaning, happiness and joy in life, revealed that most people mentioned the role of intimate relationships as an important condition for being invested in safe and satisfying relationships. Second, interpersonal difficulties are thought to play an important role in many neurological disorders, such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and other disorders. Lack of interpersonal skills can predispose individuals to mental disorders, which in turn can play a role in maintaining the disease state. Third, the development of a mental disorder itself can impair an individual’s interpersonal functioning. Patients and those close to them must know this well. For example, patients with depression are reluctant to meet people, are self-absorbed, and are overly sensitive, distracted, and burdened when interacting with others. Patients with bulimia have the same problems. Therefore, therapeutic interventions will be of substantial and immediate help to patients whether they are targeted to improve the lack of interpersonal skills and lack of supportive relationships that may have existed before the illness, or to help patients deal more effectively with current interpersonal issues related to the presence of symptoms after the illness. Mechanisms for the effectiveness of interpersonal psychotherapy in bulimia nervosa Bulimia nervosa is often associated with depressive symptoms (>80% comorbidity), and both bulimic and mood symptoms are strongly associated with interpersonal problems. Most patients can clearly recall the context and triggers of the onset of the disorder, such as after high school or college, after a breakup, after leaving home, after the death of the father, etc. These are all part of a change in life context. These are interpersonal problems that occur after a change in life context, involving adaptation to a new interpersonal environment and role, loss of old interpersonal support, shock and shaking of the individual’s inner self-image, emergence of insecurity, uncertainty, etc., which in turn can lead to the development of various psychological problems such as depression and bulimia. As time progresses, the connection between illness symptoms and various interpersonal events becomes more complex, and the patient becomes more caught up in the symptoms and has no time to take care of these connections. Interpersonal psychotherapy focuses on the interpersonal domain, helping patients clarify the connection between interpersonal problem areas and symptoms, and then developing various strategies to address the problem in a targeted manner, developing and improving interpersonal support systems, and improving depression and bulimia symptoms through this explicit pathway. Setting of interpersonal psychotherapy Interpersonal psychotherapy is focused therapy with clear goals, and therefore is a short course of treatment, typically 16-20 sessions for bulimia nervosa. It is set up to require once a week, which ensures regularity and order, as well as sufficient time for patients to practice what they have learned in therapy. The total treatment duration is 16-20 weeks, or 4-5 months. The first 4-5 sessions are an assessment process with the goal of clarifying with the patient the relationship between the illness and the interpersonal context and events, and finding a therapeutic focus. The next 10 sessions focus on the goals obtained during the assessment phase, helping the patient to learn interpersonal problem solving skills, develop a satisfactory interpersonal network, and follow up on both symptoms and interpersonal progress in real time in relation to the improvement of symptoms. The last two sessions are summative and prepare for life after treatment ends. Indications for interpersonal psychotherapy Patients with eating disorders with bulimic symptoms; a body mass index of 17.5 or more; a willingness to initiate treatment; and some awareness of the link between the disease and interpersonal events.