Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 1, 2026

A Computer-Based Platform for Aiding Clinicians in Eating Disorder Analysis and Diagnosis
Published on: May 10, 2022
Are personality disturbances in anorexia nervosa related to emotion processing or eating disorder symptomatology?
Andrea Phillipou1, Caroline Gurvich2, David Jonathan Castle3
1Department of Optometry & Vision Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia ; Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia ; Department of Mental Health, The Austin Hospital, Melbourne, Australia ; Department of Mental Health, St Vincent's Hospital, 46 Nicholson St, Fitzroy, VIC 3065 Australia.
Background:
Anorexia Nervosa (AN) is a psychiatric illness associated with a number of personality disturbances. However, whether these personality characteristics are related to eating disorder symptomatology or emotion regulation is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate these relationships.
Results:
Twenty-four individuals with AN and 25 age- and premorbid intelligence-matched controls completed the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire, and scores were correlated with measures of emotionality and negative mood states, and eating disorder symptomatology. AN was associated with increased scores on schizoid, borderline, avoidant, dependent, obsessive compulsive, negativistic and depressive personality dimensions, relative to controls. In AN, eating disorder symptomatology did not significantly correlate with scores on any personality dimension. However, a number of personality characteristics were found to correlate with negative mood states.
Conclusions:
The findings suggest that personality disturbances in AN are not related to disorder-specific symptoms, but are related to negative mood states.
Related Concept Videos
Anorexia Nervosa
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...
Bulimia Nervosa
Binge Eating Disorders
Borderline Personality Disorder
Genetic and Environmental Contributions
Borderline Personality...
Personality Disorders: Schizotypal and Histrionic
Schizotypal Personality Disorder: Eccentric Behavior and Social Withdrawal
Schizotypal personality disorder is marked by odd or eccentric...
Personality Disorders: Narcissistic and Avoidant
Characteristics of Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Narcissistic individuals exhibit an inflated sense of self-importance and an excessive need for admiration. They are often...

