For the individual treatment of eating disorders, the first goal of treatment is to restore normal eating patterns and normal weight. With anorexia nervosa, hospitalization may be required to achieve these goals. Since most cases of bulimia are not as severe, hospitalization would most likely not be necessary. Medications are not effective in combating anorexia, but antidepressants have been found to help with bulimia (Barker & O'Neil, 1999). Psychotherapy and behavior therapy (reinforcing a patient, either verbally or through granting a privilege, for appropriate eating behaviors) have been found to be effective for both, and family therapy is thought to be very important for adolescent anorexics (Barker & O'Neil, 1999). Cognitive behavioral therapy has been found to be effective in the treatment of bulimia. The therapy seeks to alter dysfunctional beliefs about the importance of weight and shape, and to teach coping strategies to resist binging and purging (Smith, Marcus, & Eldredge, 1994).