title: Personality disorder and treatment response in bulimia nervosa.
abstract: Thirty-nine female out-patients with bulimia nervosa were assessed for personality disorders using the PAS. All subjects then entered a therapeutic trial, comprising eight weeks of cognitive-behavioural therapy with follow-up after eight weeks and at one year. Thirty-nine per cent of the patients were diagnosed as having personality disorders. Patients with personality disorders were more depressed and had a lower BMI than those without. They also had a significantly poorer response to treatment, but the difference between groups did not reach significance when mood and BMI were controlled for. Personality disorder alone does not predict a poor response to treatment, but comorbidity with depression and low weight increases the likelihood of a poor response; these patients are unlikely to respond to brief psychotherapeutic interventions.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychiatry & King's College Hospital, De Crespigny Park, London.
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Fahy
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Eisler
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Russell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D001828:Body Image; D002032:Bulimia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D004038:Diet, Reducing / Q000523:psychology; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011379:Prognosis; D011594:Psychometrics; D012307:Risk Factors