Personality disorder traits, obsessive ideation and perfectionism 20 years after adolescent-onset anorexia nervosa: a...

The many studies examining the relationship between anorexia nervosa (AN) and personality abnormalities have observed high comorbidity. However, no definitive studies to date have established whether there is a causal connection or whether it is a complication. The current study aimed to explore the nature of the relationship between personality disorder (PD) traits, obsessionality and perfectionism, using a study design that allows the testing of some comorbidity models.

Twenty-nine women were recruited from a group of former AN patients treated during their adolescence in a specialized unit around 20 years before the time of this study. They were divided into two groups according to the current presence of eating disorder (ED) symptoms (current-ED, n = 11; recovered, n = 18). Both groups were compared to a matched control group (n = 29) regarding current PD traits, obsessive beliefs and perfectionism.

Borderline PD traits, most cluster C PD traits and overestimation of threat were more common in the current-ED group than in the control and recovered groups. Obsessive-compulsive PD traits, intolerance of uncertainty, and perfectionism were also significantly more prevalent in the current-ED group compared to controls but did not reach significance when compared to the recovered group. No significant differences were found between the recovered and control groups.

Our results mostly support the personality abnormalities observed as a transient effect related to the presence of ED psychopathology in patients with adolescent-onset AN.

Level III, case-control analytic studies.