Relationship between depression and body dissatisfaction in women diagnosed with bulimia nervosa.
OBJECTIVE
Body dissatisfaction and depression have consistently demonstrated a positive association in women. This study sought to determine the independence of this association from bulimic symptomatology among women diagnosed with bulimia nervosa.


METHODS
Participants were 101 women who completed a controlled treatment study of bulimia nervosa and participated in follow-up assessments 10 years later.


RESULTS
Findings indicated that baseline levels of depression were independent of and superior to bulimic symptoms in prospectively predicting body dissatisfaction at follow-up assessment.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings suggest that depression may be a better prognostic indicator of body dissatisfaction than bulimic symptoms in women diagnosed with bulimia nervosa. A model in which depression represents a contributing factor for the maintenance of body dissatisfaction is discussed.
Keel
P K
PK
Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA. pkeel@wjh.harvard.edu
Mitchell
J E
JE
Davis
T L
TL
Crow
S J
SJ
D000328:Adult; D001828:Body Image; D002032:Bulimia / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011379:Prognosis; D016896:Treatment Outcome