Related Experiment Videos
Specific comorbidity between bulimia nervosa and personality disorders
J M Carroll1, S W Touyz, P J Beumont
1Department of Psychology, University of Sydney, Australia.
The International Journal of Eating Disorders
|March 1, 1996
Summary
Bulimia nervosa (BN) frequently co-occurs with personality disorders, even when depression is not present. Identifying these comorbidities can help tailor treatments for individuals with BN.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Bulimia nervosa (BN) is a complex eating disorder.
- Comorbidity with personality disorders is a significant concern in BN.
- The role of coexisting depression in this comorbidity requires clarification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the comorbidity between bulimia nervosa and all DSM-III-R personality disorders.
- To control for the influence of coexisting depression in BN patients.
Main Methods:
- Administered the Personality Disorders Examination (PDE) to three groups: depressed BN patients (n=15), nondepressed BN patients (n=15), and nonpsychiatric controls (n=15).
- Utilized additional measures including the Bulimic Investigatory Test, Edinburgh (BITE), Eating Disorders Inventory-2 (EDI-2), and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS).
Main Results:
- 46.7% of depressed BN patients and 33.3% of nondepressed BN patients met criteria for at least one personality disorder.
- Only 6.7% of nonpsychiatric controls met criteria for a personality disorder (p < .05).
- The increased comorbidity between personality disorders and BN was not attributable to depression.
Conclusions:
- Findings support a significant comorbidity between personality disorders and BN, independent of depression.
- Identification of these subgroups can inform prognosis and differential treatment strategies for BN.
- This research aids in making more appropriate treatment decisions for individuals with BN.