The aim of this paper was to revise the scientific production related to bulimia nervosa. It was classified in three dimensions of analysis: countries related to research in the area; indexed publications and designs and aims of the research. The sample comprised 200 abstracts of publications indexed in the LILACS and MEDLINE databases, between 1986 and october/2000, using the key word bulimia nervosa. The United States (43,5%) and Brazil (12,5%) are the countries having the largest number of publications. The articles are distributed among 100 different journals. The empirical design predominated (75%), with a greater emphasis on the procedure of group comparisons (63,5%), with adult population. Studies on diagnosis issues (24%) psychodynamic issues (21,5%) and aspects linked to treatment (17%). The data found suggest an increasing interest in the subject over the past two years, probably due to the higher incidence of the disease. More research is needed, associating social influences and preventive aspects.
Eating disorder; bulimia nervosa; literature review; scientific production
