Risk factors for bulimia nervosa: a controlled study of parental psychiatric illness and divorce.
Twenty five women with normal-weight bulimia nervosa were compared with 25 age- and weight-matched women without bulimia nervosa on measures of parental psychiatric illness. Case and control probands, as well as their parents, completed the Family History Research Diagnostic Criteria (FH-RDC) interview and a battery of self-report instruments. Case probands and controls were divided into two groups based on evidence for parental psychiatric illness. The assignment of parental psychiatric illness was made by (a) a positive parental history of alcoholism or depression from the FH-RDC; or (b) evidence of parental major depression, alcoholism, or personality disorder from the self-report measures. Parental psychiatric illness occurred significantly more frequently for case probands compared to the control probands (64% vs. 24%, odds ratio = 5.6, 95% Cl = 1.7-19.2). Parental psychiatric illness was also associated with parental divorce (Fisher's exact p = .023) and a trend toward lower ratings of paternal but not maternal relationship by case probands. This study suggests parental psychiatric illness may be a risk factor for bulimia nervosa and may contribute to environmental effects through increased rates of divorce and impaired paternal relationships.
Boumann
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Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City 52242.
Yates
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002032:Bulimia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004243:Divorce / Q000523:psychology*; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors