Abstract
Group therapy has been shown to be an effective treatment for bulimia nervosa and it has been used for the past three decades. However not everyone who is offered group therapy will benefit from it. This literature review will explore the reasons why individuals with bulimia may leave group therapy prematurely. The impact on the person leaving the group and those who remain and how the therapist can manage drop out will be discussed. In addition, in order to provide optimal effectiveness of a bulimia therapy group and hopefully reduce drop out from the group, the therapist must provide clear screening criteria for prospective members of the group. Therefore, cautions and contraindications for screening potential members will be critically evaluated. Implications for clinical practice and research will be discussed.