So far only five cases of anorexia nervosa and none of bulimia nervosa have been described in black Africans in sub-Saharan Africa. Therefore the exact eating pattern, psychodynamics and psychological management of a case of bulimia nervosa in Kenya is reported. The client was self-referred to the Amani Counselling Center in Nairobi in May 1990. The therapeutic approach used was a combination of cognitive behavioural therapy and a psychodynamic focal approach in the context of family dynamics. It was found that this case was in a number of ways similar to what is found in ‘Western’ cultures: a close bond with the mother, thereby failing to develop a sense of autonomy, high achievement expectations, a middle class family background, onset of the eating disorder after puberty. The findings in this case support the hypothesis that the incidence of anorexia/bulimia increases with a historical shift toward a more Western-oriented environment in African cities like Nairobi. Bibliogr., sum. in English and French.
