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Relationship between depression and body dissatisfaction in women diagnosed with bulimia nervosa
P K Keel1, J E Mitchell, T L Davis
1Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA. pkeel@wjh.harvard.edu
Objective:
Body dissatisfaction and depression have consistently demonstrated a positive association in women. This study sought to determine the independence of this association from bulimic symptomatology among women diagnosed with bulimia nervosa.
Method:
Participants were 101 women who completed a controlled treatment study of bulimia nervosa and participated in follow-up assessments 10 years later.
Results:
Findings indicated that baseline levels of depression were independent of and superior to bulimic symptoms in prospectively predicting body dissatisfaction at follow-up assessment.
Discussion:
Findings suggest that depression may be a better prognostic indicator of body dissatisfaction than bulimic symptoms in women diagnosed with bulimia nervosa. A model in which depression represents a contributing factor for the maintenance of body dissatisfaction is discussed.