Cognitive characteristics of bulimic and drug-abusing women

This descriptive study contrasted specific coping styles, attitudes, and irrational beliefs among three groups of women: bulimics, drug abusers, and a normative comparison group. The substance abuse groups were found to be more irrational than the comparison group and were moodier and more socially alienated. They also were prone to a negative view of the world and a bleak outlook toward the future. Bulimic subjects put considerable importance on others' approval, tended to denigrate themselves, and were under a lot of self imposed pressure and chronic tension; drug abuse subjects were more introversive, perfectionistic, and subject to recent stress. By contrast, the normative comparison group appeared confident, sociable, and optimistic.