Alexithymic characteristics of bulimia nervosa in diabetes mellitus with end-stage renal disease.
This study examined the clinical characteristics including stress-related factors of eating disorders in a sample of 312 diabetic patients with end-stage renal failure. The prevalence rate of bulimia nervosa was 5.1% (16 of 312 patients). The 16 patients with bulimia nervosa were 8 men and 8 women over 58 years old. Looking at the subjects by cause of end-stage renal failure, those with diabetes mellitus exhibited significantly higher prevalence rate of bulimia nervosa than two nondiabetic groups (diabetes 10%; nephritis 1.6%; others 1.9%). As for the association of bulimia nervosa and stress-related factors, end-stage renal failure patients with diabetes who exhibited bulimia nervosa showed significantly higher scores on a measure of alexithymia. These results suggest that, when liaison psychiatrists see diabetic patients with end-stage renal failure who exhibit bulimia nervosa, they should pay close attention to stress-related symptoms including alexithymia.
Fukunishi
I
I
Tokyo Institute of Psychiatry, Japan. fukunisi@prit.go.jp
D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D002032:Bulimia / Q000523:psychology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology; D010552:Personality Assessment