A qualitative study of young women's experiences of recovery from bulimia nervosa.

Aim: To describe experiences of recovery from bulimia nervosa among young adult women.

Background: Most studies into recovery from eating disorders focus on anorexia nervosa, although some include both anorexia and bulimia nervosa. Recovery has been described as beginning with renewed self-esteem.

Design: Qualitative interview study.

Methods: Fourteen women were invited to participate; five women, between 23-26 years of age, who assessed themselves as healthy for at least 2 years agreed to take part in narrative interviews. Tape-recorded interviews lasting 45-60 minutes (median 49 minutes) were conducted from February-April 2010 and transcribed verbatim. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis.

Findings: The interviews revealed four themes in recovery from bulimia nervosa: feeling stuck in bulimia nervosa, getting ready to change, breaking free of bulimia nervosa and grasping a new reality, each comprising two or more subthemes. The process of recovery was not linear, but rather went back and forth between progress and relapse. The women expressed strong ambivalence about leaving the illness behind. An important part of their recovery was their ability to accept themselves. It was essential for their recovery to be supported in developing a unique explanation of the cause of their illness.

Conclusion: Women's ability to recover from bulimia nervosa and take control over their lives is based on their self-efficacy. Effective care should therefore strive to strengthen women's beliefs in their own abilities, to instil hope for recovery and thus to bolster their self-efficacy.