Associations between self-induced vomiting and personality disorder in patients with a history of anorexia nervosa.
Fifty-five patients of an eating disorders service with a history of anorexia nervosa (AN), defined by a history of refusal to maintain body weight above a level of 15% below that expected, completed a modified version of the revised Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire (PDQ-R) based on DSM-III-R personality disorders (PD). The subjects were divided into 2 groups based on AN subtypes: vomiters, defined by a history of self-induced vomiting, and non-vomiters, who had maintained low weight mainly or only by diet +/- excessive exercise. Vomiters showed significantly higher scores on self-report measures of borderline and antisocial PD criteria. Discriminant analysis based on PD scores for all 13 DSM-III-R PD categories correctly predicted AN subtype membership based on vomiting history in 85.5% of patients. The implications of PD comorbidity for the development and management of eating disorders are discussed.
Dowson
J H
JH
Cambridge University Department of Psychiatry, Addenbrooke's Hospital, United Kingdom.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D006801:Humans; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015995:Prevalence; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior; D014839:Vomiting