Chewing and spitting out food among eating-disordered patients.
OBJECTIVE
The symptom of chewing and spitting out food (CHSP) is fairly common among patients with eating disorders. The purpose of this study is to examine the associations of the symptom in patients with eating disorders.


METHODS
Patients who reported CHSP were compared with those who did not. The relationship between CHSP and other symptoms was assessed by logistic regression analysis.


RESULTS
CHSP was found in 22% of patients. Patients with anorexia nervosa and eating disorder not otherwise specified who reported CHSP showed more severe eating-related pathology. This was not so for bulimia nervosa patients with CHSP who differed only in reporting greater distortion of body image. Binging was not related to CHSP in any of the diagnostic groups.


CONCLUSIONS
CHSP is a common symptom in all groups of patients with eating disorders. The symptom may serve different functions for different patients, depending on diagnosis.
Department of Psychiatry, Leicester-Warwick Medical School, Brandon Mental Health Unit, Leicester General Hospital, Gwendolen Road, Leicester LE5 4PW, United Kingdom.
Dora
D
Kovacs
Jennifer
J
Mahon
Robert L
RL
Palmer
D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002032:Bulimia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002149:Energy Intake; D006801:Humans; D008409:Mastication; D012720:Severity of Illness Index