Prevalence and clinical characteristics of borderline patients in an eating-disordered population.
Ninety-four consecutive patients seeking treatment for eating disorders were evaluated for eating attitudes and behaviors, weight history, psychiatric symptoms, psychosocial stressors, social adaptation, family environment, and the presence of borderline personality organization. The patients were divided into borderline and nonborderline groups and were compared on the above dimensions, with 46% of the patients showing borderline personality features. The borderline patients and the nonborderline patients had relatively few differences in the severity of their symptomatic eating behaviors and attitudes. The borderline patients, however, were significantly more disturbed on a number of relevant dimensions, including general psychiatric symptoms, psychosocial adaptation, family environment, self-destructive behavior, and treatment history. The authors suggest, on the basis of their findings and the findings of previous studies, that about one third of eating-disordered patients have marked borderline characteristics. They recommend that research studies in the future control for the eating-disordered patients' character pathologies. They also recommend that clinicians use a combination of long-term relationship-oriented treatment and psychopharmacological treatment with eating-disordered patients who have borderline personality disorder.
Institute of Psychiatry, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IL 60611.
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Johnson
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Tobin
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Enright
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D001835:Body Weight; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005190:Family; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008599:Menstruation Disturbances / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012917:Social Adjustment; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology