[Evaluation of temperament and personality in bulimia nervosa].
Previous studies revealed the possibility of abnormal personality development role in the etiology of eating disorders. It was found that a diagnosis of personality disorders, mostly borderline personality and/or histrionic personality can be made in about 44-46% of bulimic patients. The inconsistencies in identifying personality types using categorical assessment approaches have encouraged a conceptualization of the personality from a dimensional perspective. It was revealed that the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ) and Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) are useful in studying patients with eating disorders.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was personality dimensions and depression symptoms assessment in bulimic patients.


METHODS
We studied 36 women with purging type bulimia according to DSM-IV and ICD 10 criteria. The mean age of the studied women was 19.7 years. The control group were 44 healthy women: university and last year high school students (mean age 20.4). We assessed body height, body mass and Body Mass Index (BMI). Severity of depression symptoms was assessed with the use of Beck Depression Index (BDI), and personality dimensions with the use of (TCI).


CONCLUSIONS
Women from the study group had higher harm avoidance (HA) scores, which shows that bulimic patients are shy, fearful, doubtful, tend to be inhibited in most social situations. Mood disorders present in the studied women influenced HA scores. The results of the study revealed lower possibilities of self-directness in bulimic patients in comparison with the control group. Negative correlation between BDI and SD scores, shows that a decrease of depression severity may lead to an increase of self-esteem, independence and effectiveness of bulimic patients.
Słopień
Agnieszka
A
Kliniki Psychiatrii Dzieci i Młodziezy AM w Poznaniu.
Rybakowski
Filip
F
Rajewski
Andrzej
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002032:Bulimia / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D011044:Poland; D012649:Self Concept; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013694:Temperament; D013997:Time Factors